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Michigan
Backcountry Search and Rescue (MiBSAR)
SAR Op No. 11 photo-journal:
Joe Clewley missing-person investigation
By
Michael Neiger
Marquette, Michigan
© Copyright 2008
Duration & date: Agency assisted:
_____________________
Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganTownship & County: Nearest place-name: General location: Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the eastern Upper Peninsula Trail: Victim: Joseph Robert Clewley
White male; age 73; 5'-10"; 150 lbsCase summary: Joe Clewley and his dog Chip went missing on July 13, 2008. His van was found parked at the North Country Trail (NCT) trailhead along the Tahqua Trail in the eastern reaches of Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Joe owned a log cabin in the area and enjoyed hiking off-trail in the park. SAR op mission: MiBSAR team members: Partner SAR teams & assets: SAR op results: Joe Clewley was not located Additional resources: • Learn more about this investigation
• View official, Sheriff's Office-provided Web site for victim
• View MiBSAR-provided Web site and Internet blog for victim
Thursday, October 9
Arose to a nice fall day in Joe's Country.
Fall has arrived along the Tahqua Trail. Click on photo for high-resolution imagery. (Photo by Michael Neiger)
Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue's bivouac location along the north bank of the Tahquamenon River. Click on photo for high-resolution imagery. (Photo by Michael Neiger)
After breakfast, I began combing the plateau sandwiched between the Tahqua Trail and the north bank of the Tahquamenon River for any sign of Joe. The western limit of the search area was the first cabin west of the North Country Trail (NCT) trailhead; the eastern limit was the unnamed creek abutting the western boundary of the Hiawatha Hunt Club.
An overview of the Joe Clewley search area in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, southwest of Paradise, in the Tahquamenon Falls State Park. (Graphic by Michael Neiger)
Just before lunch, I came upon what appeared to be two very large bones from a moose.
The weathered bones of a moose along the north bank of the Tahquamenon River. Click on photo for high-resolution imagery. (Photo by Michael Neiger)
Around noon, I found a T-shirt emblazoned with "Amsterdam" within the ruins of an ages-old log cabin. It was later determined to be irrelevant to the investigation.
Well after dinner, Chris Ozminski, my SAR partner, arrived for three days of searching. We spent a lot of time getting caught up.
Friday, October 10
With breakfast and a hot drink behind us, Chris and I shouldered our rucksacks and began a long circuitous hike to an area located in Section 1. This area had drawn our interest on prior searches and we intended to really work it over in hopes of uncovering any clues to the whereabouts of Joe.
We were on-site by noon, and spent several hours combing the area.
During the day, we came across two aging old growth stumps.
Chris Ozminski looks over new replacing old flora. Click on photo for high-resolution imagery. (Photo by Michael Neiger)
Chris Ozminski standing inside a giant, burned-out, old growth specimen. Click on photo for high-resolution imagery. (Photo by Michael Neiger)
With our work completed to our satisfaction, we quickly set off for our vehicles. We needed to be back in civilization for an early-evening planning and strategy SAR Team meeting. Upwards of 25 people would be participating in a two-day, K-9 SAR Op over the weekend.
The view of Joe's Country from atop the Pinnacles, north of the headwaters of the Lynch Creek Watershed. Click on photo for high-resolution imagery. (Photo by Michael Neiger)
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In God's wilderness
lies the hope of the world,
the great, fresh, unblighted,
unredeemed wilderness.
—
John Muir, 1838-1914
Alaska Wilderness, 1890
If
you've been able to read this Web page...
thank a Teacher;
If you've been able to read this Web page in English...
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unknown
•
Copyright notice •
Content Copyright © 1984 --
2009-09-16
by Michael A. Neiger
• All rights reserved •
No part of this Web page or this Web site protected by copyright law may be reproduced, transmitted, or used in any form--including graphic, electronic, Web, mechanical or other form--or by any means--including photocopying, recording, taping, Internet distribution, information storage retrieval system, or by other means--for any purpose, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages, without the prior, express, written permission of the author.
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