By Tom Kollenborn © 2022 Courtesy of the Apache Junction News and Apache Junction Public Library
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Three Utah Missing Treasure Hunters
Rick Gwynn was hiking east of First Water Trail Head on Wednesday
January 5, 2011 when he made a gruesome discovery. He found the remains
of two treasure hunters missing since July 6, 2010. The remains were
found on the WNW slope of Yellow Peak. The third victim was found on
January 15, 2011 by Superstition Search & Rescue and immediately
reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. SSAR was a certified
Community Emergency Response Team doing what they do best finding the
lost, injured, and missing. This tragic chapter has finally come to a
close after thousands of man hours has been exerted searching for these
three men. Nobody or any state, county or government can be faulted for
not finding these men sooner. Treasure hunters have a tendency to leave
the main trails and wander about looking for treasure signs or markers.
Some times they choose extremely rugged terrain and if a mishap occurs
it is extremely difficult to find them in an emergency. Often it is
almost impossible. July is no time to be hiking off into the
Superstition Wilderness Area looking for gold when temperatures are
above 110*F. Gold was the deadly vision that led these men to their
final resting place. Lost gold can certainly be a dangerous attraction
for some individuals.