Seven Springs Search 03/31/02

Coordinator: Dep. John Ramsay

At approximately 0100 MCSO SAR was dispatched to Seven Springs Cottonwood trail head to coordinate a search for 2 missing adult females. Lake Patrol advised that the 2 missing females had limited hiking experience, no survival supplies, and were wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts. They had started their hike at 1300 hours on 03/30/02. At approximately 2200 hours they were able to get out on their cell phone to their husbands, requesting that they send help. MCSO Fox 1 Helicopter had been flying the area for approximately 2 hours with no success.

Jeep posse units were stationed at all trail heads and on the main road leading into Seven Springs. The CP was set up at the Ashdale Ranger Station. Mountain Rescue teams and mounted units were dispatched to search all trails within 10 miles. Posses that responded included Medical Rescue, Communications, Fountain Hills Mounted, Maricopa Mounted, Scottsdale Mounted, Jeep Posse, Mountain Rescue, Metro, Surprise, and Air Posse.

DPS Ranger helicopter was dispatched to search the Skull Mesa area. At approximately 0920 hours Ranger found the victims. They were in good condition and flown to the command post.

The victims said they had taken the wrong turn onto Trail 250 from Trail 246. They felt they would be going in the wrong direction if they took a left on Trail 246, despite a sign at the turn. When they knew they were lost, they hiked to top of a hill to make the cell phone call, then returned to the trail so they could be found. The victims were checked out by an MD and released at the scene.