Another Tragic Loss In The Backcountry/Desert
One of my favorite programs to watch on Youtube is Heavy D. Sparks & Diesel Dave's Utah based channel about trucks, recovering vehicles, adventure, and living life to it's fullest. Today the guys posted this video about a recovery they did recently in Nevada. The story is about a senior citizen named Ron and his wife Beverly who where on a road trip in their RV heading to Tucson, Arizona. For what ever reason they took a road that lead them to the middle of nowhere costing Ron his life. Here is the video with another tragic wrong turn story below.
This second story is one of the most incredible & tragic stories I've ever read. It's the tale of a German couple, their two boys and their disappearance in Death Valley, California in 1996. It's told by a rescuer who did the incredible detective work to find their remains and bring closure to their families when the official authorities couldn't. It's a long read, but so worth it, better than any of the garbage on TV these days.
This is the tale of what for me was a rather remarkable adventure. It was assembled on the basis of my personal recollection and experience, emails, GPS logs and some official documents. It represents solely the perspective and opinions of myself, in my more lucid moments.>
https://www.otherhand.org/home-page/search-and-rescue/the-hunt-for-the-death-valley-germans/
The moral of these stories is do not head into the backcountry unless you know where you are going, what you are doing and you have plenty of supplies to last you until you can be rescued. Always turn back if you are unsure because the road ahead could be a dead end, but at least you know the road behind you.
I've been stuck, alone several times in the desert, one time having to call the sheriff to rescue me in 104 degree heat. Miller's Towing in the Death Valley story ended up towing me out.
I am pretty experienced as I dig for minerals in very remote places, but even I have made mistakes. I learned the hard way, don't push it because it's not worth your life. Turn around and live to tell your adventures another day.
RIP Ron, Egbert, Georg, Cornelia & Max.
Omg! Just watched the video about recovering Ron and Bev's vehicle. It's so difficult to comprehend that type of terrain as we don't have anything on that scale in UK. It's so sad it ended that way for Ron, and it must have been so traumatising for Bev.
Haven't read the second story yet, there's only so much I can take in a day 😥
I just don't understand how people can drive 1 hour out into the desert, not seeing anyone or anything, in an RV no less, and then continue up a mountain on treacherous roads. I know we men refuse to ask for directions, but we still have common sense and in the desert that common sense becomes heightened. Honestly this story doesn't make sense.
The second one is really bad because it involved kids, but it's also an incredible tale about how the story teller solved the case.
Wow! What a horrible misadventure. I've traveled so many of those back country roads, but thankfully in the proper vehicle with plenty of supplies. Getting lost is scary. What a tragic experience.
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I wonder if their age might have played into the bad decision making. Whatever the cause, at least he lived a long life. I hope the wife can recover.