September 1, 2008 © Thomas J. Kollenborn. All Rights Reserved.
Many people have fallen victim to the rugged terrain and extreme climatic conditions that often prevail on Superstition Mountain. Siphon Draw, on the west face of Superstition Mountain, is a classic example of a climatic basin affected by weather extremes during the cooler months of the year. The elevation changes from 2,400 feet to 5,024 feet in a very short distance. This rapid change in elevation can alter the temperature dramatically, especially during the winter months.
On Sunday, November 15, 1964, two brothers decided to go deer hunting in the canyons along the west face of Superstition Mountain. A winter storm was moving in, but they believed they could hunt until dark and then hike back to their pickup truck without difficulty.
They hiked a trail just north of Mining Camp Restaurant that followed the slope of the mountain into Siphon Draw. Richard Kermis, the older of the two brothers lived in Mesa with his expectant wife Barbara. Robert Kermis, his brother, was visiting from Fredonia, Pa. Hunting in this rugged terrain can be real challenging even to a veteran outdoorsman.
The brothers had hunted together before. However, they were young and inexperienced to desert conditions. On this particular day they hunted most of the time and climbed around the rocks in the area.
At sundown the brothers had not returned to their pickup. Later that evening, Barbara, Richard’s wife, reported her husband and his brother missing to the Pinal County and Maricopa County Sheriff’s offices. The next day a search was implemented by both counties that continued for four and a half days.
On Wednesday, November 18, 1964 the temperature in Siphon Draw had dropped to 15 degrees F. and above four thousand feet there was a foot of snow. After the third day hope was given up that the brothers would be found alive.
Roy Leubben, Tom Daley, and Deputy Sheriff Toby Drummond had worked the search area for three days by nightfall on Wednesday, November 18. Roy Leubben claimed all the trails had been checked in a 15-mile radius of the search area. Still there was no sign of the two missing brothers. The search continued, and the number of searchers had grown to several hundred [horsemen] and hikers by Thursday. The weather began to clear Thursday morning. Still there was no sign of the missing brothers on Superstition Mountain.
On Friday, November 20, 1964, Mike Laughlin of Coolidge, making his last pass through Siphon Draw discovered the two bodies. The position of the bodies indicated the older brother was trying to shield his younger injured brother from the extreme cold. Investigators believed Robert Kermis fell from the top of a ledge some 60 feet. He was severely injured and couldn’t move. The weather changed rapidly and darkness was upon them.
A closer examination of the bodies assured the investigators that Richard tried to protect his younger brother from the extreme freezing conditions in Siphon Draw.
Judge Norman Teason called for an inquest to be held at his office in the Palo Verde Lodge on Apache Trail. An autopsy was performed by Dr. Alford D. Musgrave, Pinal County pathologist. He determined Robert died from a broken back and the complication of freezing temperatures. Richard died from hypothermia.
Temperatures at night probably dropped down to 22 degrees below freezing on the Fahrenheit scale.
Richard and Robert Kermis died on the mountain from the results of a severe winter storm. They were challenged by weather, severe injuries and isolation even though they could see the lights of the houses below and the lights of Apache Junction in the distance. The brothers didn’t attempt to build a fire because they didn’t have any matches or dry tinder.
Death on the Superstition Mountain under these circumstances is nothing but tragic and overwhelming to the family and loved ones. The story goes to show, you don’t have to be in the rugged interior of the mountain to meet up with tragedy. The Kermis family suffered the ultimate during that tragic week in November of 1964.
Since the turn of the century many individuals have lost their lives on Superstition Mountain. One should always approach the mountain with caution and common sense. Always let somebody know where you are going and when you expect to return.
It is recommended to always go prepared for extreme weather conditions during the winter months or summer months.