Search and rescue teams continue to scour the Wind River Mountains in Sublette County for a missing hiker and his dog, last seen Saturday after failing to meet family at a designated campsite.
For the past four days, the Sublette County Tip Top Search and Rescue team has combed the area on foot and by air looking for Jonathan Bailey and his yellow Labrador retriever, Wrigley, said Shannon Gehlhausen, office manager for the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office.
Bailey is believed to be somewhere between the Elkhart Park Trailhead about 14 miles northeast of Pinedale and the 1,000 Island Lake area in the Bridger Wilderness.
So far, there have been a few unconfirmed sightings of Bailey, but no solid leads yet, Gehlhausen told Cowboy State Daily.
The sheriff’s office asks anyone who was hiking in that region over the weekend and saw Bailey and Wrigley to call 307-367-4378.
Bailey — who lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but grew up in Evanstonm, Wyoming — is described as being in his mid-50s, standing roughly 5 foot, 10 inches tall with short light brown-to-gray hair and a neatly trimmed beard.
He was carrying a black backpack and sleeping bag and wearing a yellow Wyoming ball cap, while Wrigley has on a red pack, authorities report.
Gehlhausen said the search remains active amid a busy holiday weekend that generated six search and rescue calls, including evacuating four injured people and locating another lost hiker.
‘Anyone Can Get Turned Around’
Former Sublette County Sheriff and search and rescue volunteer Hank Ruland, who put in about 25 years of service, said many missions originated at the Elkhart Park Trailhead during his tenure.
He estimates the hike to 1,000 Island Lake at around 6 miles of relatively easy terrain compared to other trails.
“I haven’t been to 1,000 Island Lake, per se,” Ruland told Cowboy State Daily, “but I know the area, and it’s not that rough.”
He noted the spot’s popularity among backpackers. Despite its name, Ruland said the lake doesn’t have 1,000 islands, just many small ones.
“It’s pure wilderness,” he added. “You either backpack in or ride horses.”
In his experience, most of his calls in the area involved overdue hikers who got lost, separated from their group, or returned to look for missing companions.
Altitude sickness is also a common ailment given the trailhead starts at 9,340 feet, so hikers can become disoriented.
It’s also easy to get lost in the wilderness, he said.
“Anyone can get turned around out there — even a guy like me who knows it like the back of my hand,” Ruland admitted, recalling a time while out hunting when he lost his bearings when storm clouds rolled in.
“It can be eerie,” he added. “I always tell people to sit down, compose themselves, and pinpoint north, south, east, and west. If you think it through, you’ll usually be fine.”
Tip Top SAR coordinator Kenna Tanner was on her way to another call Tuesday and unavailable for comment; Sheriff KC Lehr was out with the search team and also not reachable.
Bailey’s family declined to comment at this time.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
