A Thank You Letter from a Satisfied Customer/Subject
From ASAR-Wiki
June 27, 2006
Dear Judy, I can only hope that I can express the depth of appreciation and respect I have for all of you. You all gave my family and loved ones hope when the darkest of dark loomed and had the upper hand. I was doing everything I could to get home on time, to get to a phone..... it just wasn't happening. For me, all I can say is that I embarked upon a journey that wouldn't let me go until it was over. It was intense to say the least. The worst part of the whole thing was not having the ability to let people know what was going on. I am so thankful you all were there. I have heard great things about you all. My heart felt like it was ripped from my chest when I heard that a horse was lost. Jim, I am sorry.
Synchronicities happened all along the trip. There was a stream when I needed water, rain to cool things off when I was climbing a ridge with little water, animal trails when I didn't know where to put my next step, sunlight when I needed to find a clearing before dark to camp, wood within reach to make a fire, signs from clouds, inspired direction, and a woman to pick me up on a highway who happened to be the owner of Camp Davis. It was obvious to me that people's love, prayers, thoughts and hearts all made for a divine intervention effort to occur. I am blessed and grateful to be here now.
Thank you again, so much, for what you all have done. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you all,
Name Withheld for Privacy
Please let everyone know how touched we were by their efforts, seen and unseen. I remember my first sleepless night when name_deleted didn't come home and trying to think hopeful thoughts. And then driving early to Iron Gate campground with my 16 month old son seeing if maybe he had run out of gas on his motorcycle and was waiting for me to pick him up. I was elated to see the motorcycle there yet no name_deleted. With baby on my hip, I hiked trail 250 all the way to the gate calling his name. Returning to my car I realized that I couldn't do it alone and that I needed support. It was with definite dread that I made the calls to the police and the forest service department reporting name_deleted missing.
Leaving the baby in good hands, I planned to be around Iron Gate until... So I'm there again late afternoon looking when I hear a voice. At first I think it's name_deleted's but it is someone else's calling for him. They were the first team. Just by the look of them — capable, experienced, friendly, and assured ~ I felt this wave of relief and hope flood me. That was the first of many tears. The best thought I had from then until Friday was, "if anyone can find name_deleted these people surely can."
For me, the mental relief was the absolutely best part of the search and rescue processes. Hearing the walkie talkie communications all night and knowing each team's willingness to scour every possible inch even in the dark and cold - that was amazing and moving. When the dog teams came in and smelled his clothing another surge of hope blazed through me. Then the horse teams and the helicopters....each subsequent wave stirred more belief, something I was definitely short on. So, it is with deep appreciation that I give my thanks to everyone involved and their professional care, especially, £ary Williams, Peter and Judy, each on-f oot search team, dog team, and horse team (so much of my heart especially goes to Jim for the loss of his horse), and the base camp team members and helicopter crew.
I had to keep reminding myself for those two long days that its called search AND rescue. You guys do a great service and its definitely to be applauded, not only by those you search for, but their friends and family.
Name Withheld For Privacy
