71-Year-Old Man Missing in Guadalupe Mountains National Park is the Latest Disappearance in a Park This Year
Park Rangers in Guadalupe National Park are continuing their search Monday for a missing 71-year-old man.
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According to a social media post, Rich Berry was last seen around noon on November 2. His last known location was at the Marcus and Blue Ridge Trail Junction. Berry told his family he planned to hike from Dog Canyon to Blue Ridge. However, he did not return to their hotel that night. Park Rangers found his car at the trailhead.
The highest peak in Texas is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The area is known for its rugged trails. The park borders the state of New Mexico and is a very rural area. In fact, it is one of the least visited parks in the National Park Service.
A Closer Look at National Park Disappearances
An investigation by the New York Post found 1,180 missing people reports in national parks between 2018 and the first two months of 2023.
Fortunately, most people are found safe by search and rescue teams. We saw a case like this over the summer in Sequoia National Park. The hiker, Bill Roberts, was missing for six days after getting lost off the trail. Eventually, he found his way and asked another hiker for help.
However, other cases from this year remain open. Crews in Rocky Mountain National Park searched for Chad Pallansch, a trail runner who vanished off a trail in late September. Park Rangers launched a massive search that lasted several days. Officials eventually called off the search almost two weeks later without an answer.
Search crews in Guadalupe Mountains National Park are asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of Rich Berry to contact the National Park Service’s tip line at 888-653-0009.
Here’s a look at gear and advice for anyone hiking solo.
