Lynn Simmons, lost in the High Uintas

[Dave]

Figured some folks here might be interested in a long-forgotten missing persons case I came across several months back: the unsolved disappearance of Lynn Simmons on Sept. 4, 1940.



Simmons was an axeman on a General Land Office survey crew on assignment in the Uintas. On the day he disappeared, Lynn and three other surveyors were descending from Lamotte Peak toward Baker Lake. Lynn became separated from the rest of the group in the midst of a storm and was last seen on Lamotte's north ridge. The other surveyors went for help the following morning, and a search involving hundreds of people failed to turn up any sign of him.



When I came across Lynn's story in old newspaper articles, I realized he wasn't listed on any missing persons databases. All official records of the search had also been lost, and Lynn's surviving relatives didn't know the details of the story. Lamotte's an obscure enough peak that none of them knew how to find it.

Over the course of several months, I worked with one of Lynn's nieces to piece together the story of his life, and to find old maps and other records that helped fill in the story.

Ultimately, I think it's likely Lynn's remains came to rest somewhere in the wilds between Stillwater Fork and East Fork of the Bear. But why he wasn't found in 1940... I can't say. The mystery persists.

I produced a story about Lynn for KSL. You can watch or read more here: https://ksltv.com/696607/what-happe...old-case-of-surveyor-lost-in-uinta-mountains/

 

[wsp_scott]

Good article

This is the sad part to me "the other three surveyors “kept looking back,” and at one point, “they waved and he waved back.”" and "The three reportedly made their way to a new spike camp, which only one of them knew how to locate"

So one man out of four actually knew how to find camp and that one man left someone else behind. The man left behind was never seen again.

 

[scatman]

Good article

This is the sad part to me "the other three surveyors “kept looking back,” and at one point, “they waved and he waved back.”" and "The three reportedly made their way to a new spike camp, which only one of them knew how to locate"

So one man out of four actually knew how to find camp and that one man left someone else behind. The man left behind was never seen again.

I thought the same thing.

 

[Dave]

So one man out of four actually knew how to find camp and that one man left someone else behind. The man left behind was never seen again.

This is where having such a thin record is so frustrating. I’d love to know in more detail what the other three men told the authorities.

I’ve hiked all over that area, on and off trail, visiting the little lakes and sub-basins. Back in 1940, the USFS had an established trail that crossed from Baker Lake/Boundary Creek over a sub-ridge to BR-44 and then down into East Fork. Fragments of this trail are still evident if you know where to look for them. That’s presumably the trail the surveyors would’ve used coming down from Lamotte.

From where Lynn was last seen, you can’t see Baker Lake. But you can see Scow Lake, so I wonder if he tried to go out to Scow Lake instead.

It’s purely speculation on my part, but I imagine the other three guys felt comfortable with Lynn’s ability to follow them and find his way to the camp, having worked around him for weeks. Some members of the family told me they grew up hearing that Lynn’s horse made it to camp, but that’s not reflected in the old articles. They’re not even clear whether his horse was with him on Lamotte.