Sam search update #3, 16 Jul 01

A further five days of searching the high country and still no trace of Sam. Wednesday (July 11th) I once again drove the four hour drive to the South San Juans, posted more posters, talked to more locals, then started the 12-mile backpack to Green Lake, where Laila and I last saw Sam. This time Laila would be joining me on Saturday, driving down after work on Friday afternoon. Thunderstorms stopped me after eight miles in around 7pm. Next morning (Thurs) I completed the trip to Green Lake and after setting up the tent I attempted to retrace Sam's path. Across the first drainage 100 elk were making the crossing. Though they were aware of my presence they could only move the bulk of their massive herd so fast. One by one they made their crossing. I waited in respect and admiration.

As I continued on Sam's possible course I followed the most obvious elk trails. Over one week before when we had reached the meadow half a mile from Green Lake I had let go of his leash when I dropped my pack for a drink. At first I had not noticed the herd of elk 300 yards away. When I did see them Sam had already started towards them. At first he did not see them, but followed his nose. I yelled "No Sam" and ran for his leash, but he was already in pursuit. Half the herd went left while he followed the six or seven running to the right. Laila and I hiked up to where he had departed and continued up to Green Lake. Sam had always returned from his "freelancing" journeys. I keep his freelancing in check by keeping him on the leash, but realistically no one keeps the reins tight constantly. Sam won't take off unless he has a reason. The reason is always potential prey. I continued up and over two more drainages, peering down the cliffs of the Canon Verde, continuing further than I had previously searched. I moved towards the coordinates of the extreme ends of the high plateau marking the terrain bordered by the South Fork of the Conejos and Canon Verde--the likely area Sam would be if he had been trapped by his leash.

The terrain was hilly and varied and I soon realized that he may not have heard me nor I he on my previous searches. This was an area of about 20 square miles, so in any case I could not reasonably search it completely by myself in any case. After eleven days I knew that if he were trapped that I would be finding his body...and my calls would be in vain. Still, finding his body would at least bring closure. The not knowing, the thought of him suffering, waiting for help. This has kept me searching for eleven of the last fourteen days.

That afternoon I looped back and over the high cliffs above Green Lake then lower to Lake Victoria and Lake Alverjones before returning to the camp site at Green Lake. Now I had covered the large area south of Green Lake as well as a large area north including new terrain.

Next day (Friday) I went back into the country where he was last headed, this time going deeper into the triangle, covering all the extremities of the high terrain, making certain of it by use of my GPS. Many elk once again, and deer, rabbits, etc, no sign of Sam. Not a trace. Not a paw print. Vanished. The trail was gone.

Discouraged, I let the budding T-Storms of the afternoon convince me to halt for the day. Next day I walked down trail to meet Laila coming up. I was so happy when she arrived right on schedule where I met her about eight miles up the trail. She had driven up Saturday morning starting at 2am from Co Springs. I met her around 10am on the trail. After reaching my camp site at Green Lake we hiked up to Trail Lake and into the Tierra Amarilla high country in search of Sam. No luck in this pristine wilderness we turned back when the sky threatened. Reaching the camp site around 7pm just in time to duck into the welcoming tent as the rain began its assault.

Sunday we searched right of the trail (facing down trail), observing a woodpecker earnestly at work high on a spar, and coming on a baby elk as it cried like a human child for its mama.

I too cried as we left the high country, realizing that I was leaving Sam and the search for him...not even certain if I could bear returning again to continue the search. Not sure if I could endure the constant calling with no answer... only the relentless sounds of the forest...

Sam is so much more than a "dog". He knows more than we do in many ways. Whenever we go into the wilds he is fantastically aware and in tune with his surroundings. More than that, Sam is my soul mate and constant companion. I have done my best to find him and so far my best is not good enough.

High on Mt Massive I well remember under 100-mile winds as we neared the summit in November of 1998 as we regained the ridge and the winds pinned us down--we were unable to even stand in the face of them--Sam gave one single bark of concern...he was willing to continue, but he wanted to let me know that he didn't think it was a good idea. We turned around. Another time on Columbia in January I had ducked over the ridge out of the wind to put on more clothes against the biting 40-mph wind. As I put on extra clothes he ventured over the ridge returning with his single bark of concern once again. When I went to the ridge I was nearly bowled over by the harsh wind and saw the basin abscured by a growing storm. We abandoned that attempt in a hurry to avoid the incipient storm. Sam is wild by nature, but grounded in the people world by me--his master, his only master. Sam is an alpha dog--he thinks he is the top of the food chain, and he may well be. I can only hope he is thriving until we can reunite.

Steve