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