Search under way for hiker missing in Joshua Tree NP 7/14

[Perry]

I went out there today and filled in some gaps of areas that had not been searched. Found a few odd things. These are unrelated or probably unrelated to Mr. Miller's disappearance, but I'm curious what they are.

Mineral deposits? Scat? A fungus?

Some kind of small animal skull. It was deep in some boulders.

Arrangement of sticks? Deep zoom, and I held my hand steady on a rock. It's near the bottom of what looked like possibly a crevice.

This burrowing owl was so still even as I approached. For a moment I was wondering if it was a toy that somebody had left. The camera had difficulty focusing because it was under a large boulder and it was early evening.

[Myth]

I've found that stuff in multiple places in JT and I'm still not sure what it is. There's some close-ups of what I've found at the end of this post: https://www.peregriff.com/wanderings/hi ... ctographs/

My best guess is scat. I haven't messed with it much when I found it, it looks gross, right?

Those sticks look like branches broken off and blown into the crevice. I'm not sure what fauna they're from but I've seen that sort in the Park before.

The burrowing owl is SUPER COOL!!! Squee.

It's getting to be cool enough to be out there again.

[Perry]

Those photos are impressive. I thought what I found was disgusting until I saw your photos which take it to a whole new level.

[zippetydude]

That has to be the weirdest compliment I have ever come across.

z

[Myth]

zip -

That stuff was sooo gross though - the way it literally melted and oozed and re-solidified and had this shiny surface where it was fresher ( ? ) and was all dusty and lumpy in older spots - blegh.

I'm usually all for crawling into nooks and crannies looking for hidden things but that stuff turned me away for sure. That stuff was piled at least a foot high, maybe more. That's the biggest deposit I've seen in the Park. I've seen several smaller ones too.

[sudha]

totally unrelated but those ear tufts mean that's not a burrowing owl. Probably a great horned owl, maybe even long eared?

[Perry]

That explains why it looked more like a "regular" kind of owl. I had assumed it was a burrowing owl because it was small and under a boulder in a non-technical area. Seems like not the best place to have a nest since a coyote could access the area.

In this recent podcast, Mr. Miller is described as adventurous:
https://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/epis ... aul-miller
I think the most adventurous thing to do is to scramble up to the southern plateau above the oasis.

His hiking speed and the slightly different timeline of the witness would allow him to go farther than most people are estimating I believe.
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threa ... t-14240323

I think he could have reached the oasis around 9:15 to 9:35 based on Neil's sighting but my speed estimate of 35 to 40 minutes to the oasis. The 2nd edge of the plateau is about an 800-foot climb from the oasis which theoretically a competitive runner or cyclist could do with good traction and firm ground in ~ 10 to 15 min. If he climbed it in 30 to 35 min. as a fast hiker climbing scree with a little brush and boulders that puts him on top around 9:45 to 10:10. If he could descend in 25 minutes and take the trail back in 35 to 40 minutes from the oasis, then he would have been able to return to the trailhead around 10:45 to 11:15 am. It's unclear whether he had a watch, and heat exhaustion or low blood sugar can affect judgement. I believe people have only searched along the 1st edge of that plateau.

[violaceopes]

Perry, sent you a PM.

[Perry]

I sketched my thoughts in yellow on this other map:
https://caltopo.com/m/9FCS
The easiest way to read them is to uncheck the Markers and Lines & Polygons folders in the lower part of the left menu.

[Myth]

I have been participating in reviews of the drone images gathered in the search for Paul. The group was just notified to suspend reviewing the photos for that case - enough evidence was found that Paul's family was notified by the coroner last night. According to the post, it is not officially confirmed ( awaiting dental record confirmation ) but the family believes that he's been found.

I'm not sure if he was found due to the drone images or not but it sounds like that was the case. I'm sure in the near future we will get official news releases.

ETA: Here is a link to an article: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/lo ... 724249001/