Found Deceased CA - Philip Kreycik, 37, Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, 10 Jul 2021

[ficus]

Hi runspired, I greatly admire your efforts to find your missing friend.

Do you know what the temperature was in the park at the time of Philip's run? I tried to find this info on some weather sites but wasn't able to. I'm asking because I live about 30 miles from Pleasanton Ridge Park, so I experience basically the same climate. When I see references to running in 107 degree heat or some such, I know that can't be true. 107 degrees was reportedly the highest temperature for that location on 7/10. The highest temps don't hit here until about 4-5 PM. Today for example it was 73F at 11:30 AM, with the high of 97F forecast for 4 PM.

This is by no means meant to suggest that Philip could not have become incapacitated due to heat.

 

[TheFool]

The Strava route this uses seems to be a mish-mash of the 2019 route with the 2021 route start, not his 2021 route that he drew either late the night before or morning-of.

The 2021 route is counter-clockwise, and has him ascending Turtle Pond Trail. It's private, though I can try to get it made public. The assumption (even day of) was that this was slightly too far for his time budget and he'd either converted to an out-and-back or short-cutted via Mariposa (where he would have been going uphill).
There are actually two locations of prints, one near the bottom of Mariposa trail (photographed by Scott) and one near the middle (photographed by me). The fact it's a full-print and not a partial-print despite the grade in that section being fairly low suggests he was power-hiking (at least) and not running, which is uncharacteristic of his style and suggests he was at that point dialing way back due to the heat (if not already in trouble).

Sorry, removing duplicate of comment below.

 

[Beekarina]

One thing I'm really puzzled by probably cannot be answered, but I will put it back out there: with all of the general surveillance out there, the only place PK was captured was when sending the package?

I know I read something about neighbors cameras and that kind of thing being checked, but in such a tech centric area, I'm puzzled. Others have mentioned game cameras on some of the trails, and I am wondering about local businesses, public transportation, that kind of thing.

In the handful of other recent missing cases I have followed, the missing usually were caught on a few cameras. Not always, but since we are pretty much watched all the time now, it seems there would be more than just the UPS store.

 

[TheFool]

The Strava route this uses seems to be a mish-mash of the 2019 route with the 2021 route start, not his 2021 route that he drew either late the night before or morning-of.

The 2021 route is counter-clockwise, and has him ascending Turtle Pond Trail. It's private, though I can try to get it made public. The assumption (even day of) was that this was slightly too far for his time budget and he'd either converted to an out-and-back or short-cutted via Mariposa (where he would have been going uphill).
There are actually two locations of prints, one near the bottom of Mariposa trail (photographed by Scott) and one near the middle (photographed by me). The fact it's a full-print and not a partial-print despite the grade in that section being fairly low suggests he was power-hiking (at least) and not running, which is uncharacteristic of his style and suggests he was at that point dialing way back due to the heat (if not already in trouble).

Yes, the route with green dashed line was intended to exactly follow the 2019 route from 7.4 mi Road Running Route on Strava. What is important is that you have high confidence PK was at least heading up the Mariposa Trail. There has been speculation that he never made it up to PR or even 20 feet from the parking lot, so this is the critical point. AFAIK this hasn't been confirmed that PK made it to the PR loop trail, had passed the 1/2 point, and was on the way back.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

This has some info re: areas to be searched tomorrow.
Authorities resume search for missing runner Philip Kreycik (ktvu.com)

 

[Beekarina]

On that note, IF a person wanted to voluntarily disappear and hide out on a trail for awhile, doing so when wearing a mask is common would probably be an advantage. Add a pair of sunglasses and a baseball hat? PK darting into a store for a quick resupply could be anyone.

I do not know enough about the local area to know if this is an absolutely crazy theory, but I keep returning to PK being the President of the MIT Outing club. Has he ever thru hiked, or expressed an interest in taking some time to do something like that? He appears so devoted to his family, but stress hits all of us at times. Just a thought.

 

[NancyDrewPonders]

Turtle pond/mariposa trail seems close to a residential house, you’d think he’d walk towards that house versus walk 1hr 30 mins back if he was in trouble. If he headed back to where it’s been extensively searched, you’d think they’d find him by now?

 

[lareportera]

Hard to believe he was overcome by heat. I’ve been overcome by heat myself in Pleasanton actually and did some reporting on heat related deaths and injuries. You just drop right where you’re at, you don’t move very fast and people don’t become disoriented by heat then cover a lot of ground. Being overcome by heat is a lot like what you’d feel after gulping down a couple fifths of vodka in a few seconds, can’t walk, can’t move, throw up repeatedly, you just want to go to sleep right where you’re at.

 

[Andreee]

Hard to believe he was overcome by heat. I’ve been overcome by heat myself in Pleasanton actually and did some reporting on heat related deaths and injuries. You just drop right where you’re at, you don’t move very fast and people don’t become disoriented by heat then cover a lot of ground. Being overcome by heat is a lot like what you’d feel after gulping down a couple fifths of vodka in a few seconds, can’t walk, can’t move, throw up repeatedly, you just want to go to sleep right where you’re at.

 

[Andreee]

I'm also wondering if PK ran a good stretch and became overcome by the heat on the land of one of the residents who won't allow any searches. If so, I sure hope those locals have searched their property themselves, and thoroughly.

 

[EmmieA]

I'm also wondering if PK ran a good stretch and became overcome by the heat on the land of one of the residents who won't allow any searches. If so, I sure hope those locals have searched their property themselves, and thoroughly.

Per the AMA there were two land owners who wouldn’t let CT’s group search their property but official SAR/LE was allowed some access — so it’s not like that property hasn’t been searched at all. Also, CT thought the probability of PK being on that land was extremely low.

 

[Andreee]

Per the AMA there were two land owners who wouldn’t let CT’s group search their property but official SAR/LE was allowed some access — so it’s not like that property hasn’t been searched at all. Also, CT thought the probability of PK being on that land was extremely low.

 

[Andreee]

Oh, ok thanks for the reply, that's good to hear!

 

[Andreee]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/227893015854510/permalink/239488858028259/
POST from TONIGHT

Friday, July 30, 6:10 PM PT: We have 7 areas we have identified to search Saturday and Sunday. We are identifying and assigning teams ASAP. We need:

• 20-25 highly skilled mountaineering/orienteering volunteers both days. Please note -- to be placed onto this team, YOU MUST have significant mountaineering, orienteering, and/or rappelling experience. YOU MUST have the proper gear. Periodic hiking does NOT count for this required experience.
• We will NOT be sending out any other volunteer hikers except for this select group of highly skilled mountaineer volunteers this weekend. As you are aware, Pleasanton Police Department and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting search efforts this weekend and it is IMPORTANT that we all stay out of their way!
• We will also have posts for volunteers at the local parks and trailheads to talk to weekend hikers. (As a reminder these park posts have been the most fruitful in turning up high quality leads including our confirmed witnesses, so please sign up to join us for a trailhead and/or park post!).
• If possible we would like 2 EMT/first responders and people to man a single remote hydration outpost with one of these medical professionals.
• We also need 1-2 people with Jeeps/4WD vehicles (NOT AWD SUV's), so if you have that please notate this on the intake form.
• We need 2 - 4 additional drone pilots (with their own drones) for Saturday AND Sunday.
• LIDAR Assistance: If you have contacts with any LIDAR companies or organizations who may be able to provide assistance, please let us know.

If you are able to volunteer this Saturday or Sunday, please take the following actions:
A. HIGHLY-SKILLED HIKERS ONLY (significant mountaineering experience required):

• Please comment below (along with your skillset area and available times); AND
• Please fill out the volunteer questionnaire so we have your contact info and emergency contact info. (https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSf.../viewform...).
• If you are a skilled mountaineer/orienteer or an EMT/first responder, please be sure to note that in the volunteer questionnaire.

B. ALL OTHER VOLUNTEERS (Basecamp On-site Volunteers, Trailhead Volunteers, etc.):

• Please comment below (along with your skillset area and available times);
• Please fill out the volunteer questionnaire so we have your contact info and emergency contact info. (https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSf.../viewform...).
• Please also sign up for your volunteer timeslot directly in our spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/.../1Mgr1RoTkiOpU0UmEOU7H.../edit...

NOTE: If you have identified yourself as a HIGHLY SKILLED HIKER, please wait to hear from a search coordinator for an assignment before you show up for a volunteer assignment. Official Search and Rescue teams will be out in the field this weekend and we are coordinating our assignments with them so please do work with us here.
If you have trouble filling out either form, please email us at [email protected] with your skillset, cell, and availability.
Thank you!!!

 

[SomethingGoingonHere]

Hi Runpired- I admire the way you and everyone in your community have come together to search for PK.
Do you think offering a reward for information will help find him?

 

[EmmieA]

This has some info re: areas to be searched tomorrow.
Authorities resume search for missing runner Philip Kreycik (ktvu.com)

This article says the volunteers identified an area that LE is going to search - I wonder what made this area a focus despite no new clues or evidence

 

[Beekarina]

They have confirmed witness sightings from the park? Did I read @Andreee post correctly?

Re: this part in bold

• We will also have posts for volunteers at the local parks and trailheads to talk to weekend hikers. (As a reminder these park posts have been the most fruitful in turning up high quality leads including our confirmed witnesses, so please sign up to join us for a trailhead and/or park post!).

 

[10ofRods]

Hard to believe he was overcome by heat. I’ve been overcome by heat myself in Pleasanton actually and did some reporting on heat related deaths and injuries. You just drop right where you’re at, you don’t move very fast and people don’t become disoriented by heat then cover a lot of ground. Being overcome by heat is a lot like what you’d feel after gulping down a couple fifths of vodka in a few seconds, can’t walk, can’t move, throw up repeatedly, you just want to go to sleep right where you’re at.

That's true. But a goodly number will be found near the trail, under brush - having realized as they were fading that shade was their best hope. Or...their biological response will include kidney flushing, so...they go off trail.

I think of Barbara Thomas, who I believe was already cognitive affected when she went in the wrong direction on the trail near Cholla Gardens, Mojave Preserve. I believe she was probably also seeking shade, water and perhaps a place to relieve herself when she decided to split from her hiking partner.

 

[mlhenn]

I think it means we’ve read too many articles and have gone over our monthly “free” limit with the SF Chronicle. I’m blocked, too.

maybe www.sfgate.com will have the article (it's the free version of the Chronicle).

It appears that sfist.com ran the same article.

Authorities to Resume Search for Missing Runner Philip Kreycik on Saturday

The Pleasanton PD announced on social media Friday morning that the search would resume in earnest this weekend. And as Sergeant Ray Kelly with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office tells the Chronicle, this search will focus on "the deep ravines, creek beds and water runoff areas" in the park.

The article also includes several comments under it. IMO, none of them seem to offer extremely valuable info but “a variety” of theories & opinions mixed throughout them.

 

[ficus]

https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/search-for-missing-pleasanton-runner-to-resume/

KRON4 interview with Sgt. Kelly of Alameda Co. Sheriff's Office. Please delete if this has already been posted.

This weekend's renewed search is to double back over areas already searched. No new clues since beginning.

No evidence found by LE that Philip voluntarily disappeared.

Sheriff's Office personnel are so impressed by Philip that they feel as if they are searching for their own family member.