While the average since records began is 41 fatalities per year, the trend has been sharply. A young California family of three have been found dead in a remote area of Sierra National Forest. ". The investigation is now being treated as a homicide. The body is unable to regulate its temperature and cool down. The family was found dead on the Savage Lundy Trail at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 17 with no cause of death immediately apparent. Hite Cove itself is an abandoned mining settlement some 4.5 miles (7.2 km) down the trail. September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM How use of diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss has led to a shortage: 'Let the diabetics have their drugs', Wildcats, Bears basketball players highlight All Mother Lode League team, Warriors want Jordan Poole to ease back on the throttle amid rough stretch. Ellen Chung, 31, worked as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant with their daughter. The Hite Cove Trail is a wonderful adventure in the Sierra National Forest that boasts awe-inspiring views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There was also no evidence indicating that Gerrish, Chung or their daughter had ingested any of the river water. We have no timeline for those pending results.". Six more causes of death have been ruled out in the baffling case. "Human exposure when swimming is fairly low, we don't ingest tons of water.". Their dedication has allowed us to close this case and answer lingering questions the family had, bringing them a little peace, Briese said in a post. The name honors John Hite, who discovered gold at the site. "These algal blooms can produce toxins that can make people and pets extremely sick," says BLM field manager Elizabeth Meyer-Shields. Investigators briefly considered the possibility that the family may have been exposed to toxic fumes from nearby abandoned mines. The sheriffs office also had said previously that extreme heat had been ruled out, but Briese said Thursday that the investigators are now convinced that the finding of hyperthermia and dehydration is correct for the couple and their daughter, Aurelia Miju. SFGate notes death by lightning strike is extremely rare, occurring in about 10% of cases. (Click here for a map of the route, with temperature notations.). "And we also know that there has not been any reported deaths of humans connected to Anatoxin-a.". The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said illnesses from extreme heat are the deadliest weather-related health outcomes in the United States and kill an average of about 658 people each year. This section of the trail makes a loop, with the halfway point the south fork of the Merced River. First published on September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM. High levels of toxic algae were detected in new water samples taken downstream from where the family died, prompting the Bureau of Land Management to close campgrounds and recreation areas along 28 miles of the Merced River on Friday, per the AP. Wander through the South Fork Merced River valley, along the rushing waters, and through the meadowlands abundant with wildflowers. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. A map showing the route that the Gerrish-Chung family hiked on the Hite Cove Trail before they were all found dead near each other on Aug. 17. Serious burns seldom occur.". Heat related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate, and I want to thank you all for being patient with us as we investigated the case, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in the news release. Trail at Hite Cove - Discover Yosemite National Park Trail at Hite Cove Distance: 2-4 miles (3.2-6.4) roundtrip for wildflower viewing, 9 miles (14.5km) to Hite Cove Elevation: 1,500 ft (457m) Difficulty: Easy Time: 2-5 hours Begin at: Savage's Trading Post on Hwy 140 Get Directions overview amenities Hite Cove Trail The cellphone data results were the last thing both the family and detectives were waiting on, Briese said. The release said the Sheriffs Office dedicated an entire team to the case and partnered with over 30 local, state and federal agencies to determine the cause of death, which was supported by the county pathologists report based on an autopsy, multiple toxicology results, and the agencys investigation. Know more in just minutes with our free newsletters. A map provided by the Mariposa County Sheriffs Office shows a re-creation of the Gerrish-Chung familys final hours while hiking the Hite Cove and Savage Lundy trails in the Sierra Nevada mountains on Aug. 15, 2021. Tuesday, Aug. 17: 11 a.m . Family members of Gerrish and Chung released a statement included in the news release thanking the Sheriffs Office for the time and resources dedicated to the investigation into the deaths. Our current priorities remain supporting and informing the Gerrish / Chung family during this tragic time," he said. Hites Cove Trail. Since Sunday,several recreational sitesand trailheads around the Savage Lundy Trail in the Sierra National Forest were closed for a month "to provide for public safety," according to the park service order. / CBS News. Mariposa County sheriffs investigators had already ruled out several potential causes: a gun or any other weapon, a lightning strike, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, cyanide, illegal drugs, alcohol or suicide. Per the results, detectives have now ruled out: "ALL other potential causes of death remain," the Sheriff's Office said. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Physical force and violence were quickly ruled out, as was toxic gas from an abandoned mine shaft. Its frustrating and were not going to rest . About a month before the family was found dead, the U.S. Forest Service warned that "a high concentration of algae bloom" had been found in the Merced River near Hites Cove, where Gerrish and. Hyperthermia, toxic algal blooms, bacterial contamination, and escaping gas from abandoned gold mines were among the possibilities under investigation by the Sherrifs office. In the mid-19th century, an area around Hites Cove held a hard-rock gold mine, where certain techniques are used to extract "hard" minerals holding metals like gold, according to The Associated Press. We've looked at storms the weather, animals. According to the New York Times, investigators "were investigating possible lightning strikes in the area", as they continue to probe the baffling case. The trail the family was hiking, the Savage Lundy Trail, snakes along the Merced River. We just don't know. We are confident in our findings, and our investigation supports the findings from the Pathologist / Coroners Office.. Such blooms are caused by algae or cyanobacteria that grow in the water and can release toxins that can sometimes poison animals, such as cattle or dogs, according to The California Department of Public Health. Birth records are available for 1811-1814, 1833-1898, marriages only for 1833-1887, and deaths for 1851-1928. A family was recently found dead on a hiking trail along the Merced River in a remote area of the Sierra National Forest in California. The announcement came as investigators continue looking into what killed John Gerrish, his wife Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter Miju and their dog back in mid-August. Investigators are looking into the possibility that toxic algal blooms may be to blame. Joshua Bote is the tech editor at SFGATE. Temperature along the section of trail ranged between 107 and 109 degrees from 2:50 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. the day the family was hiking, before cooling slightly from 4:50 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. from 105 to 89 degrees, according to the release, which said they hiked about 2 miles up the trail. The married couple, Jonathan Gerrish and Ellen Chung, along with their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and the family dog, Oski, were all found dead, inexplicably, on Aug. 17 on a steep switchback trail roughly 1.5 miles from where they parked their car. [name redacted] can you help us, the text message, sent at 11:56 a.m., read. High 46F. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, California on August 18, 2021. Their 1-year-old daughter, Aurelia Miju Chung-Gerrish, and dog, Oski, were with them. "As we navigate through this investigation with the family, we will later share our findings with the public. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. On Thursday (Aug. 19), the State Water Resources Control Board said they were testing waterways in the area for such toxic algae, according to The Fresno Bee. Gerrish and Chung were experienced hikers who had recently moved to Mariposa from San Francisco after falling in love with the area. When the deputies found the truck, a search-and-rescue team hiked down the steep and straight road with flashlights and found shoe and paw prints similar to what would be expected from a family of that size with a dog. The Merced River doesn't look particularly deep and the water moves, which would make it hard for algae to build up and form algal blooms like it does in lakes, he added. New York, Investigators quickly tried to determine if the phone saved any failed text message drafts, attempted calls, or photos, along with GPS location data. John was in a seated position near the Trail, with Miju beside him along with the dog. Gerrish was carrying a phone during the hike. Gregory Yee was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Several Western states reported record heat this summer. Indeed, Alan Wilson, a professor at the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University in Alabama, said that it's unusual for people to die from algal blooms. Looking for the best hiking trails in Frankfurt am Main? She was originally from Orange, California, and was of Korean descent. About 1.5 miles down the switchbacks, around 11 am, the team found the family in the middle of the trail. Sheriff's Deputy Kristie Mitchell told the Fresno Bee that because of mines in the area, and because there was no obvious cause of death, the scene was being treated as a HAZMAT situation. John Gerrish, 45, was from Lancashire, in the U.K., and moved to the US several years ago, working as a software engineer for Google in San Francisco. The case remains ongoing, pending these investigations. In the future, when we sit beneath the trees listening to the wind soaring through the branches, we will hear them and we will remember. All were ruled out by the autopsy and additional tests. Ellen Chung, Jonathan Gerrish and their 1-year-old daughter and dog were found dead on Aug. 17, 2021, in a remote part of the Sierra National Forest. Gerrish and his wife, with their daughter in a backpack-style carrier, and the family dog all left on foot from the Hites Cove Trailhead and walked 2.2 miles down to the U.S. Forest Service Tail 20E01.4, where the elevation dipped to 1,930 feet and approximate temperature at the time they were walking was between 92 and 99 degrees, the release said. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 18. Temperatures reached as high as 109 by midafternoon. Tuesday, Aug. 17: 1:55 a.m., a search and rescue mission is initiated. The best way to get to Hites Cove is by hiking the Hites Cove Trail starting at Savages Trading post near El Portal on HWY 140. At around noon, at least six text messages and phone calls were attempted. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. There were no apparent causes of death or signs of foul play discovered at the scene, the release said. The area is northeast of Mariposa and southwest of Yosemite National Park. Some questions have been answered, and we will use the information as a way of helping us come to terms with the situation, the family members statement said. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Family of 3 found dead in remote hiking area, Family of 3 found dead in remote California hiking area. The Devils Gulch area was hit by the Ferguson wildfire, in 2018, that burnt 151 square miles of land, killing two firefighters, causing $171 million of damage. There were no signs of foul play or trauma. "This is a very unusual, unique situation," Kristie Mitchell, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office,said last week. Homicide had already been crossed off the list. According to. Related: The 5 most poisonous substances: Polonium to mercury. A leading theory, previously, was that exposure to water contaminated with toxic algae blooms may have been a major factor. Abandoned mines can accumulate many different lethal gases, including methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and toxic levels of carbon dioxide. He had worked for Google for 15 years, starting in the London office in 2006. If people breathe in these gases, their muscles stop responding normally, thinking becomes clouded and a person can become unconscious and die. They'd gone about 4.1 miles, losing roughly 2,000 feet of elevation, by the time they. John was in a seated position, with the baby beside him along with the dog, and Ellen was just a little farther up the hill. HITES COVE, Mariposa County Authorities are considering whether a dangerous algae bloom may have killed a young family whose bodies were found here on a hiking trail this week, and friends and . But there are no known human deaths connected to drinking or wading in such contaminated water, according to the California Department of Public Health. Investigators are hoping that autopsies and toxicology tests will ultimately reveal more about what happened in this tragic story. Gerrishs attempted message was among several key pieces of new information released Thursday by the Mariposa County Sheriffs Office that shed further light on the familys final hours. The bodies were found on the Savage Lundy Trail near Hites Cove, an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. John and Ellen married in 2019 and had moved to Mariposa County from San Francisco after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, to enjoy the outdoors, after starting working from home on a permanent basis. Please enter valid email address to continue. They called in a second search team that began winding down the switchbacks that complete the loop back up to the Forest Service gate. We've looked at lighting strikes in the area. Investigators are seeking access to the couple's cellphones and social media accounts for further clues. On July 21, Sierra National Forest authorities posted a public notice warning of a dangerous algal bloom in the Merced River at Hites Cove after water quality testing by the state fish and wildlife department showed high concentrations. The US Environmental Protection Agency states that algal blooms can produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals. Just pray for peace for the families and keep your assumptions to yourselves.. After a friend reported the family missing, searchers discovered the bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter Miju and their dog, Oski on Tuesday (Aug. 17) in Mariposa County, along the Hite Cove Trail near Devil Gulch. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. What's more, these chemicals are often odorless and there are no other warning signs that you're breathing them in, according to the BLM. None of the bodies had physical wounds like gunshots or signs of trauma and no suicide note was found. "There are reports, but they're usually kind of anecdotal reports," Wilson told Live Science. "This is a very unusual, unique situation," Kristie Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, told the San Francisco Chronicle. In October, Sheriff Jeremy Briese revealed that an investigation found the family and their dog had died of heat-related illness and probable dehydration. Briese said water samples taken in the area found the algae but that toxicology tests did not indicate that any of the family members had ingested it. For those with nothing nice to say, go screw yourselves, said one family friend in response to the sheriffs office post. The trail was closed until September 26, or sooner "if conditions change" around the area. Explore the most popular trails in my list YNP. Sheriffs Office staff and a CHP helicopter searched the area around it and found no evidence they had located it or been inside, the release said. During "HIGH FIRE DANGER" the trail is closed. On savage lundy trail heading back to Hites cove trail. Police must now wait on toxicology reports from the autopsies, which could take as much as six weeks. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "So right now, we're treating the coroner investigation as a homicide until we can establish the cause.". While temperatures were high in the area the family were hiking (37C / 98.6F) at their highs, dehydration seemed unlikely, with the dog dying and the Camelback still containing water. Their deaths were caused by hyperthermia and "probable" dehydration, Sheriff Jeremy Briese announced in October, based on autopsy and toxicology test results and a sheriffs office investigation. There exists the possibility that a hazard was identified near, but not on, the trail that posed a risk to the family. Friends say the couple, recent transplants from San Francisco to the former Gold Rush town of Mariposa in the western Sierra foothills, were relatively experienced hikers out on a day trip with their infant and dog. At that point, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office confirmed the shocking news that the family died of hyperthermia and probable dehydration, while their 8-year-old dog Oski also suffered a heat-related death. ", "Our hearts will never forget the beautiful lives of Jonathan, Ellen, Miju and of course, Oski," the statement said. With fires raging across the state, the USDA Forest Service then closed all 20 million acres of Californias national forests to public access for two weeks beginning Tuesday, August 31, 2021, extending through at least September 17. After the autopsies, the deaths of the Gerrish family remained unexplained. Some wondered whether water tainted by a toxic algae bloom in the Merced River, which runs along a portion of the trail, caused their deaths. Law enforcement are "investigating possible lightning strikes" in the Hite Cove area of the Sierra National Forest, along the South Fork of the Merced River, where Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and the family dog, Oski, were found dead, with no visible signs of trauma, on Aug. 17, the New York Times reports. Officials cited "unknown hazards" in the area as the reason for the closure. Investigators combed the lower section of the trail for unreported mines, but experts said it likely would take an exposure inside a mine shaft to kill a family. The family is believed to have hiked on foot 2.2 miles from Hites Cove Trail Head to U.S. Forest Service Trail 20E01.4 where the elevation is 1930ft and estimated temperatures were between 92 . Their dedication has allowed us to close this case and answer lingering questions the family had, bringing them a little peace.. Samples of bacteria bloom along the south fork of the Merced River and Snyder Creek, which run adjacent to the trail were also taken to test for any other possible contamination in the water in the area. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 51 min to complete. People who swim, wade or participate in other aquatic activities in water laced with cyanobacterial toxins can develop health effects such as skin rashes, diarrhea and vomiting (if they ingest the toxins), or develop problems with the liver, kidneys or nervous system. . The news sheds light on a case that has confounded investigators and the public and raised new questions about outdoor recreational activities in an era of rising temperatures and climate fueled extreme weather. Because of the 2018 Ferguson Fire, some five miles of the trail has little or no foliage coverage or shade, meaning the family had been exposed to between 103 to 109 degree heat during the trek. ", Dogs tend to be more susceptible to the algal toxins, in part because they get into the water and then get out and lick their fur, potentially ingesting a high dose of toxins, he said. Warmer storms could cause problems, Missing hiker from L.A. County found in good condition in Ventura County, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, The Colorado River is overused and shrinking. Data extracted from the phone allowed investigators to re-create the familys path and timeline based on GPS locations, the Sheriffs Office said. Here are the world's 25 best beaches and top 10 in the U.S. Elizabeth Holmes has second child, seeks to delay prison. "They will remain with us wherever we go and in whatever we do. The couple were described by friends as experienced hikers. Certified copies of the Report of Death will be sent to the next-of-kin or legal representative and the original will be sent to the Department of State for permanent filing. They're still waiting on toxicology reports and apparently also on a test of water taken from a water bladder backpack the couple carried. hide caption. Briese suggested that, as relative newcomers to the area, they may not have been aware of the steepness of the terrain and how quickly temperatures could rise. Yee died Jan. 4, 2023. Last week they ruled out that possible gases from a nearby mine could've been the culprit. The California Department of Public Health said it did not know of any human deaths from recreational or drinking water exposure to cyanobacterial toxin, although some animals have been killed by algae. Per the order, anyone using or being anywhere near the listed trailheads could be subject to fines up to $5,000 or $10,000 if they are a group. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. ", Become a member of StrangeOutdoors for exclusive content, See the latest Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, Read other strange stories from the Sierra National Forest and Yosemite, The Sandra Johnsen Hughes disappearance in Sierra National Forest, The bizarre disappearance of Stacey Arras from Yosemite National Park, The strange disappearance and death of Jeannie Hesselschwerdt in Yosemite National Park, The puzzling disappearance of Max Schweitzer in Yosemite National Park, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gerrish-2748376/?originalSubdomain=uk, https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-mystery-autopsy-fails-to-reveal-cause-of-death-for-family-and-dog-found-dead-on-hiking-trial, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/poison-algae-on-gold-trail-may-have-killed-family-59vmwjf3q, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hites-cove-trail?u=m, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hites_Cove,_California, https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Not-one-clue-The-mystery-is-only-deepening-16401921.php, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9914627/Deaths-husband-wife-baby-treated-homicide.html, http://merced-river.org/HitesCoveTrail.html, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Unknown-hazards-Yosemite-trail-Calif-family-dead-16429088.php, https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF/posts/3133758160228109, https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article253864053.html?fbclid=IwAR0_Sv0T7TGRIEuytyuph8M5f50VWWgo4skgRuB3YaHIUKjO6JPK31FMNYU, https://kmph.com/news/local/mariposa-county-sheriff-multiple-causes-of-death-ruled-out-in-death-of-california-family, https://people.com/human-interest/cause-of-death-revealed-for-california-family-who-died-on-hiking-trail/, Tagged: The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, john gerrish death, ellen chung death, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, John Gerrish autopsy, Savage lundy trail deaths, Sign Up now for a one-off fee for exclusive access to many articles, The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, The mysterious disappearance and death of Nicola Bulley in Lancashire, The strange disappearance of the YouTube Survivalist Finn Creaney in the Scottish Highlands, The shocking disappearance of Theresa Ann Bier, The strange disappearance of Daniel Robinson from Buckeye in Arizona, The strange death of Lucas Renoud at the Hrisson waterfalls in the Jura Mountains, The disturbing disappearance of Daylenn Pua from Hawaiis Stairway To Heaven walkway, The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park, The Dead man who saved Brandon Day and Gina Allen on Mount San Jacinto, The strange disappearance and death of Geoff Hague in the Great Smoky Mountains, The weird disappearance of Garrett Bardsley from Cuberant Lake in Utah, The bizarre death of Cullen Finnerty in the Michigan wilderness, The puzzling disappearance of Barbara Bolick from the Bitterroot Mountains, The strange disappearance of Mike Hearon from the Great Smoky Mountains, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) report June 2021, The bizarre disappearance and death of Adrienne Quintal in Michigan, The strange disappearance of Fern Baird from the Prairie Peak Trail in Idaho, The strange deaths of David Horesay and Frederick Hardisty in the Northwest Territories, The disappearance of Steven Kubacki in the Lake Michigan Triangle, The lucky survival story of Chris Staff in the White Mountains - hallucinations, bugs and hunger, Mysterious UFO phenomena begins to be acknowledged officially by the US Military, The mysterious disappearance of Michael Bryson from the Hobo Campground in Oregon. Dr. Eric Sergienko, who serves as health officer for both Mariposa and Tuolumne counties, was involved with the testing of water samples for possible toxic algae. The bodies of Gerrish, Chung, Miju and Oski were found 7 hours later, just 1.6 miles from their car. Yasemin is a staff writer at Live Science, covering health, neuroscience and biology. She has a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Connecticut and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. As Ive mentioned, the Gerrish Chung family have been our top priority as we dealt with this horrible event.. One early theory centered on high levels of toxic algae detected in the Merced River. The plea never went through, stymied by the lack of cellular reception in the area. Federal park officials have ordered the closure of a trail in California's Mariposa County where three family members and their dog were found dead from unknown causes earlier this month. For weeks police and national forest investigators were baffled as to what killed the family. ", Jeremy Briese, the sheriff of Mariposa County, said the deaths had confounded him and his team, Ive been here for 20 years and Ive never seen a death, with any case, like this. Toxic algae still has not been ruled out; detectives are still waiting on toxicology reports back from the autopsies; a camelback of water the couple were carrying is also being tested, as are samples of water taken from the nearby creek. NY 10036. Investigations continued into late October 2021 as to what happened to the Gerrish family that day near Devils Gulch. Law enforcement are "investigating possible lightning strikes" in the Hite Cove area of the Sierra National Forest, along the South Fork of the Merced River, where Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung . Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese speaks in August about the investigation into the deaths of a husband and wife, their 1-year-old daughter and their dog on a trail in the Hites Cove area of . 2023 EHM Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. The Hite Cove trail is 3.6 miles long (7.2 miles roundtrip). Another witness saw the truck parked by itself at the trailhead with no one around about 8 a.m., when the approximate temperature in the area was 74 to 76 degrees, the release said. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Officials launched a search and rescue mission and found the missing man on the "Hites Cove Rd portion of the trail", according to a press release from the Mariposa county sheriff's office.. In the two months that passed before the sheriffs announcement, theories abounded over the familys deaths. The Mariposa County Coroner is awaiting toxicology results from the bodies, which could take several weeks. "Can you help us. This trail is therefore very popular from February to April. "We respect and understand the need for information and details regarding this case. Theyd gone about 4.1 miles, losing roughly 2,000 feet of elevation, by the time they met the Savage Lundy Trail their route back to their vehicle.