Missing hiker in Uintas - Ray Humpherys

[Deleted User]

I think some people lose their bearings in the dark. I stay out in the dark quite a bit out there, so I personally feel totally comfortable at night walking away from camp. It does helps I have two Luci Lamps lit up in camp. Hard to miss those.

If he had a water bottle and a headlamp where was he going? Especially in the hours he was reported missing in. Even with a headlamp I would not attempt a descent in that terrain after dark unless I had to. I've seen it in full daylight. Looks almost as fun as descending the cliffs above Adax Lake.

 

[Rockskipper]

Do you suppose he was in the rougher terrain during the next day or two? I picture him getting lost in the dark, wandering a bit, then staying put until morning, but by then being lost enough that he panicked and headed further out. I'm curious how you figured out he was where he was - why would he go that direction?

 

[Dave]

Still the question about *when* he got into trouble. Was it that night or an early morning solo as suggested be @Carrie1010 ?

There's no reason to believe it is otherwise than getting turned around that night. Mistakes happen. Unless evidence points to otherwise, I think that's the narrative that is going to stick.

As for the precise location, I plan to go after documentation once the situation has settled a little bit. This is another SAR where seeing the location of discovery might yield clues as to what actually happened.

 

[andyjaggy]

Glad the family can have closure now.

 

[Carrie1010]

My condolences to the Humphrey family. Hugs and prayers sending your way.

 

[Carrie1010]

Me too. He must have been heading down the middle fork if I had to guess. He knew he was 40 yards from his tent but still wandered 1.5 miles, linearly, away. I have a hard time imagining being that irrational/discombobulated.

I agree

 

[Dave]

I have confirmed Ray was located on the west side of the Middle Fork, so he crossed the river. That’s a huge red flag. He was spotted by the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter but the terrain requires sending people in on foot to make the recovery.

 

[Perry]

I have confirmed Ray was located on the west side of the Middle Fork, so he crossed the river. That’s a huge red flag. He was spotted by the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter but the terrain requires sending people in on foot to make the recovery.

Wow! That’s incredible.


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[Nick]

I have confirmed Ray was located on the west side of the Middle Fork, so he crossed the river. That’s a huge red flag. He was spotted by the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter but the terrain requires sending people in on foot to make the recovery.

I recognized that voice in the press conference!

 

[Perry]

@Dave where was their camp at Hidden? Do you know?


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[Dave]

@Dave where was their camp at Hidden? Do you know?

I don’t know for certain. The pinpoints I saw at the volunteer search command post showed it directly south. I’ve been told they were about 40 yards from the shore.

 

[andyjaggy]

Nothing about this case makes any sense. Not only did he not stay put when he realized he was lost within what the first 5 minutes? He then proceeded to wander for who knows how long, AND crossed a major river? I could understand that behavior from a young kid, but a grown adult with lots of backpacking experience? It just doesn't make sense.

 

[Nick]

I feel strongly that there must have been something affecting his decision making that we just don't know about. He was experienced and seemed to be in reasonably good condition. There's nothing about any of this that fits into a scenario in which he was making rational, thought out decisions. My bet would probably be a sudden onset medical condition or something along those lines. Maybe we'll learn more when the autopsy is complete.

 

[Perry]

I'm sitting here looking at a topo map and I'm in complete disbelief! If he went off lost that night he had to have had some kind of mental impairment that caused him to become totally disoriented. Or... he purposely set out early the next morning and just got in trouble with a fall.

 

[Mountain_rat]

Just tossing this out there.. He could well have had a spell of Alzheimer suddenly and had absolutely no idea what was going on or just had no idea where he was..

 

[Deleted User]

I am curious to see the autopsy results for the cause of death. If he crossed the river, his death certainly wasnt from taking a fall on the east side descending that drainage. If he did have Alzheimer's that would explain a lot. I still want to know what the official cause of death was. Just what was he trying to reach taking such a trip, in the dark, down such steep terrain? There are a lot questions still to be answered. If they ever release the autopsy results.

 

[andyjaggy]

That entered my mind as a possibility as well. Mental impairment associated with age. I mean he was only 66, so not super old, but certainly a possibility.

 

[Dave]

I asked about impairment. The sheriff could not say one way or the other. I’d suggest we ought not diagnose the man without better information. Clarity on this may take some time. The family is still processing this, so I think it’s fair to give them some space.

 

[Carrie1010]

Nothing about this case makes any sense. Not only did he not stay put when he realized he was lost within what the first 5 minutes? He then proceeded to wander for who knows how long, AND crossed a major river? I could understand that behavior from a young kid, but a grown adult with lots of backpacking experience? It just doesn't make sense.

It really doesn’t make any sence. I am hoping e will get more information as time goes on. Prayers for the family

 

[wabenho]

As my boys and I drove down from further up MLH on Friday we saw the helicopter circling and the SAR organizing on the ground. Certainly makes it more real to see the efforts. My 7 year-old has been praying for the "lost grandpa". With the holiday yesterday, I didn't get a chance to share the news with him. I'll need to talk to him tonight. Condolences to the family.