A couple from Virginia that went missing at Amboy Crater near Amboy, California, in recent weeks is feared dead after the remains of a man’s body was found near the site last weekend. Another search for the missing woman will begin this weekend.
It would be the fifth fatality at Amboy Crater in less than a year. In late May, a man in his 60s was found dead on the trail, likely from a heat-related illness. A California couple was found dead near the trail in August, also likely from heat-related causes.
According to the Hi-Desert Star, an abandoned vehicle belonging to Williamsburg, Virginia, residents Susan Schmeirer, 65, and William Schmeirer, 64, was found June 13 at the Amboy Crater trailhead parking lot.
The vehicle had been abandoned for approximately 10 days and the location of the passengers was unclear. The couple had been due to arrive in Palm Springs on June 2, where they had a hotel reservation waiting for them and had plans to see their daughter.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department searched for the couple by air and ground Saturday, June 16. Morongo Basin Search and Rescue volunteers and a trained search dog joined the hunt.
They found the remains of a man matching the description of William Schmierer around 7:30 a.m. Saturday off the main road toward the crater, east of a gazebo, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Jodi Miller.
The San Bernardino County Sun reported that authorities will conduct another search this weekend in hopes of finding Susan Schmeirer.
Sheriff’s officials warned the public about the dangers of people conducting their own searches. Daytime temperatures will be extremely high this week, and ground temperatures will be even higher due to the dark lava ground cover. There is poor or no cell phone service in the remote desert area, officials explained. […]
The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the Amboy area with high temperatures forecast of 115 degrees Wednesday, 117 degrees Thursday, 118 degrees Friday and 113 degrees Saturday.
I’ve hiked into Amboy Crater several times, but only during the early morning or early evening, when the sun isn’t as oppressive. If you do it, be sure you bring plenty of water, and don’t hike it alone. More good advice may be found at The Sun Runner.
If these tragedies keep happening, I fear Bureau of Land Management or San Bernardino County authorities will close access to the Amboy Crater trail during the summer. The heat in that area can become dangerous not only to hikers, but to rescuers, as well.
Amboy Crater is a 250-foot-tall extinct volcano a few miles from the Route 66 village of Amboy. It’s been listed for decades as a National Natural Landmark and is within the recently established Mojave Trails National Monument.
(Image of Amboy Crater near Amboy, California, by the Bureau of Land Management via Flickr)
I think closing the trail during summer months is not just a good idea, it’s cricitally necessary.