Found Deceased JAPAN - Patricia "Pattie" Wu-Murad, 60, US Citizen, on hiking trip Kumano Kodo Trail, didn't arr next stop Osaka, 10 Apr 2023

[ZaZara]

I had difficulty finding the specific trail on AllTrails, but now I've come across a sub-segment of the trail posted there. Interestingly, there is a caution that it can be difficult to find the trail as you come out of the village.



I presume they are referring to finding access to the bridge since they reference signboards and roads (and there are no roads across the bridge). I also noticed that immediately after crossing the bridge there is another trail that splits from the Kohechi. It isn't a very long trail (perhaps several km), but perhaps it has some difficult terrain?

View attachment 418424

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/t...bridge?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map

On Help Find Pattie on FB it is mentioned that this trail has been searched extensively

 

[Snoopster]

On Help Find Pattie on FB it is mentioned that this trail has been searched extensively

Yes, I presumed that since that is the Kohechi trail that she was expected to be following and possibly disappeared from. My point was that there is another trail (dashed line; not the green main Kohechi trail) that veers off to the right immediately after the bridge.

(ETA: My apologies. I probably could have worded my original post in a clearer manner! I had meant that I couldn't find, on AllTrails specifically, the official Kohechi trail in its entirety, or the 3rd let in its entirety. The trail that I posted from AllTrails presumes that the person head out for part of the leg and then turn around and go back to where they started.)

 

[Snoopster]

HelpFindPattie is reaching out looking for volunteer trail runners who have experience running the Kohechi route. I wonder what that is for?

 

[evilwise]

HelpFindPattie is reaching out looking for volunteer trail runners who have experience running the Kohechi route. I wonder what that is for?

It probably means that the professional SAR phase of the operation is winding down, sadly.

 

[annpats]

HelpFindPattie is reaching out looking for volunteer trail runners who have experience running the Kohechi route. I wonder what that is for?

I suppose as the police and official SAR searches will eventually come to an end soon, they are looking for volunteers who've had experience on that trail who may be able to carry the searches on.

But so far, nothing has been found, no clues after 3 weeks. Not a shoe, a discarded map, a hat.....and sniffer dogs couldn't find anything either.

Do you keep on searching the same trails? Move on to new ones? Where do you stop? It is a total needle in a haystack situation.

 

[ZaZara]

dbm

 

[ZaZara]

HelpFindPattie is reaching out looking for volunteer trail runners who have experience running the Kohechi route. I wonder what that is for?

Witnesses IMO. Anything they might be able to tell about the trail. Slippery spots, loose paving stones, passing places, nasty locals. Traffic. Weather. Shortcuts. Images from a Go-Pro.

 

[Cedars]

But so far, nothing has been found, no clues after 3 weeks. Not a shoe, a discarded map, a hat.....and sniffer dogs couldn't find anything either.

Do you keep on searching the same trails? Move on to new ones? Where do you stop? It is a total needle in a haystack situation.

Sadly, like any case, you have to step back and wait for new evidence to emerge, or ideas for new viable techniques that haven't been tried. IMO this is a somewhat un-American approach.

I was recently catching up with a case in the US of an experienced hiker who went missing on a day hike. One SAR searcher took it on as a challenge, and spent 8 years theorizing, searching and encouraging others, keeping detailed maps of every search, etc. Then he edited the motto on his webpage for the case:

"You haven’t failed at something until you officially give up. (Whoever said this is an idiot)."

However, the remains were found accidentally by hikers after 12 years, in an area no one had searched, because it seemed implausible/impossible he would be there. There was no foul play, he just got lost and couldn't get a cell signal. ETA: but instead of staying in place, where he would have been found, he went searching for a signal/busy road.

JMO

 

[Snoopster]

Sadly, like any case, you have to step back and wait for new evidence to emerge, or ideas for new viable techniques that haven't been tried. IMO this is a somewhat un-American approach.

I was recently catching up with a case in the US of an experienced hiker who went missing on a day hike. One SAR searcher took it on as a challenge, and spent 8 years theorizing, searching and encouraging others, keeping detailed maps of every search, etc. Then he edited the motto on his webpage for the case:

"You haven’t failed at something until you officially give up. (Whoever said this is an idiot)."

However, the remains were found accidentally by hikers after 12 years, in an area no one had searched, because it seemed implausible/impossible he would be there. There was no foul play, he just got lost and couldn't get a cell signal. ETA: but instead of staying in place, where he would have been found, he went searching for a signal/busy road.

JMO

What a wonderful post @Cedars. It must be so difficult for a family to decide to leave the scene, let alone continue on with normal life. I don't consider that giving up hope. They can still have hope and you never know how things will turn out.

I'm not saying they should step back at this point. That is their decision to make. I'm very impressed with their efforts. What an amazing family.

 

[slowpoke]

If you put in your Google search bar:

Randomwire Kohechi Day 4

you’ll see at the top of results a blog post made from several years back from someone who stayed at the same accommodation as Pattie. Some nice photos, too. Beautiful scenery. There’s one photo of the elderly woman host waving him goodbye, which made me think of Pattie’s send-off (being pointed in the direction of the trail). It looks to be at some sort of general store. I think it’s just around the bend from the minshoku.

 

[neesaki]

If you put in your Google search bar:

Randomwire Kohechi Day 4

you’ll see at the top of results a blog post made from several years back from someone who stayed at the same accommodation as Pattie. Some nice photos, too. Beautiful scenery. There’s one photo of the elderly woman host waving him goodbye, which made me think of Pattie’s send-off (being pointed in the direction of the trail). It looks to be at some sort of general store. I think it’s just around the bend from the minshoku.

I didn’t see a photo like that. Maybe I am looking at something else?

ETA: So I tried it on another search engine, Chrome, and I found what you’re describing. Weird, I was using my Brave search engine the first time and it came up with something different.

 

[StillDiggin]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/02/japan-missing-hiker-volunteers/

 

[slowpoke]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/02/japan-missing-hiker-volunteers/

This article is behind a paywall (subscription only). I was able to read it. A few points:

The Nara prefectural police told the WaPost there were no updates.

Pattie’s husband at first didn’t think the Miura-toge Pass would pose a problem for Pattie. But then he had retraced it and slipped several times, and said it made him rethink that thought. He said there are some paths that are narrow and on cliffs, with very deep valleys below.

About Pattie: Her husband says she is a giving person. She enjoys giving gifts to people. She loves to cook large Thanksgiving meals for her family. She spent months planning this trip. She was happy. She loves her family.

 

[ZaZara]

Radio interview with husband Kirk Murad.
https://www.audacy.com/podcast/wcbs...mily-woman-goes-missing-hiking-in-japan-1b9ee

From memory:

He says they are not sure Pattie ever made it to the trail and they are now searching in another area.
The signage towards the trail was reasonably good when he walked with his son, but he understands that more signs were put up after Pattie disappeared.

The Australian pilgrim never saw Pattie.
Three trail runners who ran the trail that day never saw her either.

SAR teams say this is the most difficult terrain they ever worked in.

 

[slowpoke]

Radio interview with husband Kirk Murad.
https://www.audacy.com/podcast/wcbs...mily-woman-goes-missing-hiking-in-japan-1b9ee

From memory:

He says they are not sure Pattie ever made it to the trail and they are now searching in another area.
The signage towards the trail was reasonably good when he walked with his son, but he understands that more signs were put up after Pattie disappeared.

The Australian pilgrim never saw Pattie.
Three trail runners who ran the trail that day never saw her either.

SAR teams say this is the most difficult terrain they ever worked in.

I finally had a chance to listen to this interview. To add to @ZaZara ’s helpful recap:
The other guest left around 2 hours after Pattie—never saw her. Three trail runners ran the path that morning and should have encountered her about halfway up the mountain, but never saw her, either.

 

[slowpoke]

JM, brother to Pattie’s husband:

“Upon their arrival in Japan, Pattie's family found out she'd left her itinerary behind at the guesthouse, which they found strange.

They're not sure if she left the itinerary behind by mistake or some other reason.

The family and Japanese officials are now focusing on other nearby routes on the off-chance that Pattie decided last minute to go another route. That is also not like her, Murad said.”

Interview with Pattie’s brother-in-law -KSHB 41 News

Great article for spreading awareness and humanizing Pattie for us. She has a wonderful family.

 

[evilwise]

Sadly, like any case, you have to step back and wait for new evidence to emerge, or ideas for new viable techniques that haven't been tried. IMO this is a somewhat un-American approach.

I was recently catching up with a case in the US of an experienced hiker who went missing on a day hike. One SAR searcher took it on as a challenge, and spent 8 years theorizing, searching and encouraging others, keeping detailed maps of every search, etc. Then he edited the motto on his webpage for the case:

"You haven’t failed at something until you officially give up. (Whoever said this is an idiot)."

However, the remains were found accidentally by hikers after 12 years, in an area no one had searched, because it seemed implausible/impossible he would be there. There was no foul play, he just got lost and couldn't get a cell signal. ETA: but instead of staying in place, where he would have been found, he went searching for a signal/busy road.

JMO

If you ever find yourself in this situation, uninjured but hopelessly lost - if you build a big smoky fire people will come. If injured, a steel whistle can certainly be worth the 1oz and 1 cubic inch of pack space. You can blow a whistle a lot louder and for a lot longer than you can yell.

 

[Snoopster]

Radio interview with husband Kirk Murad.
https://www.audacy.com/podcast/wcbs...mily-woman-goes-missing-hiking-in-japan-1b9ee

From memory:

He says they are not sure Pattie ever made it to the trail and they are now searching in another area.
The signage towards the trail was reasonably good when he walked with his son, but he understands that more signs were put up after Pattie disappeared.

The Australian pilgrim never saw Pattie.
Three trail runners who ran the trail that day never saw her either.

SAR teams say this is the most difficult terrain they ever worked in.

Well this tells me that she never made it as far as the Totsukawa road section of that Kohechi stage.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 3, 2023

Investigators Change Search Area for Missing Storrs Hiker in Japan

The search is continuing for a woman from Storrs who is missing after going hiking in Japan. After weeks of searching, Pattie Wu-Murad’s family has learned new information from local police there and that has led them to change the search area. Wu-Murad went missing on April 10 while hiking in...

www.nbcconnecticut.com

[...]

Investigators had a previous account from one hiker who never saw Wu-Murad on the trail. Now, police have spoken with three more people who were all running the trail, about 30 minutes behind Pattie. They also said they never saw her.

Given both accounts, police now think she missed the trailhead so they are changing their search area.

[...]

 

[ZaZara]

If you put in your Google search bar:

Randomwire Kohechi Day 4

you’ll see at the top of results a blog post made from several years back from someone who stayed at the same accommodation as Pattie. Some nice photos, too. Beautiful scenery. There’s one photo of the elderly woman host waving him goodbye, which made me think of Pattie’s send-off (being pointed in the direction of the trail). It looks to be at some sort of general store. I think it’s just around the bend from the minshoku.

Thanks for posting this. Great overview from the entire Kohechi trail. The author was very happy with his trip. After following his steps, I am not so sure that I would add the Kohechi trail to my bucket list. The author walked in december, perhaps it is better in a warmer season. To me, it all seemed quite gloomy up in the mountains. The second leg (that Pattie hiked) and the third one (that she probably didn't) are very similar, a path through endless woods, mountain up, mountain down. More of the same and once over again. Desolate. Lonely.

IMO the trail is difficult both physically and mentally. Perhaps it is better whith more senses available so you can smell the trees and listen to the birds etc.

Anyway, I was very surprised that anyone would go ultra-running on that trail, but apparently they do.

In case of an accident, IMO chances are higher on the second part of the trail, downhill, and along the road. The author mentions a two hour walk along that road before he reached his guesthouse.

Since Pattie apparently never made it uphill, those options are no longer likely. IMO this increases the chance of foul play. I can think of no good reason why Pattie would choose a different trail (without signage?) and not inform her family / hosts/ Australian pilgrim about that. Or, if she took a wrong turn, she would surely have noticed the lack of signs for the Kohechi trail. And turned back to where she came from. For all we know, her phone was still working on Monday morning. People have been know to take wrong turns, notice their mistakes and go back.