Amboy Crater claims more lives: One dead, one missing
A cross-country road trip has gone terribly wrong for a couple from Virginia. Susan, 65, and William Schmeirer, 64, left their home in Williamsburg on May 27, and were expected to arrive in Palm Springs on or around June 2. They never arrived.
Instead, on June 13, Bureau of Land Management rangers notified the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department that a vehicle had been parked at the Amboy Crater trailhead parking lot for approximately 10 days and the car appeared to be abandoned. BLM rangers conducted a preliminary investigation and requested the assistance of the Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's aviation unit 40K3 immediately responded and conducted an extensive aerial search, according to the Sheriff's Department, but did not locate the Schmeirers.
On June 16, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Morongo Basin Station coordinated and conducted an extensive search of the area around Amboy Crater utilizing deputies, a helicopter, Morongo Basin Search and Rescue volunteers, and a trained search dog. The search located human remains of a deceased male matching the description of William Schmeirer. Positive identification of the body is pending from the Coroner's Division. Cause of death of the male is unknown pending an autopsy.
The whereabouts of Susan Schmeirer is unknown at this time. The Sheriff's Department is continuing its search and investigation. Morongo Basin SAR volunteers are scheduled to conduct another major search operation of the Amboy Crater area this weekend.
The Sheriff's Department noted it appreciates the overwhelming support local desert community members have provided in recent similar situations, but would like to remind the public of the dangers inherent in conducting their own searches. With temperatures climbing to 110 degrees in the Amboy area this week, daytime temperatures will be extremely high. The terrain around Amboy Crater, with its dark lava rock ground cover increases the temperatures, and there is little to no cell phone service in the area.
The Schmeirer tragedy follows the deaths of Kathie Barber and her husband Gen Miake of Yorba Linda while hiking near Amboy Crater last August. https://www.sunrunnersw.com/single-post/2017/08/13/Tragedy-in-Amboy
Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760)366-4175.
Update: As of July 5, 2018, the body found near Amboy Crater has been positively identified as William Schmierer. His wife Susan has not been found.
If you hike in the desert, especially in the summer (but you need to be prepared all year long), you need to be prepared. You absolutely must bring plenty of water. Yes, it's heavy. But it's heavy for others to carry your body out, too. A usual recommendation is to have a liter of water per person per hour, but as the temperatures climb, do does your need for water. In addition to drinking, wetting your face, ears, and neck is also a good way to help cool yourself down if you begin to overheat. We see a lot of novice desert hikers bring one of those tiny water bottles with them, thinking that's enough. No, it's not. You're asking for trouble if that's all you bring with you.
When you see your water supply dip to about 60 percent, it's time to head back. If you wait until you are almost out of water before heading back to the trailhead, you increase the chance of heat exhaustion and heat stroke - with little you can do to address it. You can supplement water with sports drinks like Gatorade or others with electrolytes. We find them helpful, especially on longer hikes.
Wear clothing and hats that protect from the sun, and appropriate footwear. Proper shoes when hiking can prevent a lot of accidents and injuries. A first aid kit is also useful.
You need to bring snacks as well. Make sure they're not the melting kind of snacks.
Don't overdo it. If it's summer, hike early mornings or later in the evening. Plan hikes that fit those time periods, so you do not find yourself hiking in the hottest parts of the day. Check the weather forecast. The hotter it is, the shorter the hike. If you're in an area you are unfamiliar with, stick to established trails. You can't afford to be lost when the temperature is over 100 degrees.
Don't count on your cell phone. If you hike in interesting places, it often won't get reception. That said, don't act like you're in the city and play lots of music or drain the battery using your apps. If you need to call for help, you'll want it to work if possible.
Do not bring your dog. Presumably you love your dog. If you do, do not bring your dog hiking with you in the desert in the summer, and be careful when hiking with them in other times of the year. We're tired of hearing about dogs with burned paws, or even dogs dying on hikes. The national parks often do not allow dogs on trails anyway, so leave your pooch at home.
Please do everything you can to prevent us from having to write another story about hikers dying in the desert.