A hazmat situation was declared after the bodes were found, but was eventually lifted. This story was originally published August 21, 2021, 10:20 AM. Tall pines swayed in the wind, yet no breeze could be felt. What is a toxic algae bloom? They had been reported missing Monday night. The family was found dead Aug. 17 in the Devil's Gulch area in the south fork of the Merced . " Mariposa Trails OpenMapTiles OSM 3.0 Miles Point to Point 3,716' High Investigators were initially considering whether toxic algae blooms or other hazards may have contributed to the deaths, and the area where the family was found was briefly treated as a hazmat site. The family had relocated to Mariposa County during the pandemic in 2020, when Gerrish's job became remote, according to the Merced Sun-Star. 3,374' Down News. you have two healthy adults, you have a healthy child and what appeared to be a healthy canine all within a general same area, deceased. (A necropsy was also planned for the family's dog at the University of California Davis.). We were hiking out and back on ahistoric path that gold miners walked in the mid-1800s: the Savage-Lundy trail in the Sierra National Forestdown to Devils Gulch on the South Fork of the Merced River. 5.3 km The Savage-Lundy Trail - described by Briese as a steep, established and popular trail - was also closed around where the family was found. Mariposa County sheriffs officials are awaiting toxicology results and told The Chronicle that they arent ruling out any potential causes of death. 3,931' Down Tuesday, Aug. 17: 1:53 a.m., the familys car is located down Hites Cove Road north of Jerseydale. While Chung was still pregnant, the couple relocated to Mariposa, hoping to integrate their daughter to a life in the outdoors. Did algae bloom kill family hiking in Mariposa County? Being a jerk / offensive? One of the premier mountain bike trails in the PNW. After the gate, the Forest Service Road is a steep drop, which eventually leads to the Savage. 10013.9 m Down. And I cant imagine anything at a historic mine site that would have caused what occurred there.. In addition to their residence, the family also owned several other rental properties in Mariposa and had just purchased a new house near the trailhead where they hiked Sunday, Jeffe said. There exists the possibility that a hazard was identified near, but not on, the trail that posed a risk to the family. Oski were located deceased near the Devil's Gulch area in the Southfork of the Merced River drainage. It was parked at a trailhead down Hites Cove Road past the Jerseydale Sierra National Forest station and community of Mariposa Pines. John and Ellen, together with their baby and dog, drove to the start of the trail in their Ford Raptor truck on the afternoon of Sunday, August 15. Its different from another popular trailhead to the Hites Cove area along Highway 140 in the river canyon closer to Yosemite. Theres no obvious indicators of how it occurred . near Hites Cove, a remote location in Sierra National Forest, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, No smoking gun. Algae blooms considered in mysterious death of family near Yosemite, Toxic algae warning rises to danger level at Fresno-area lake. He lives with his wife and three kids in the East Bay. This index is built using observations from everyday people like you noting species in the Natural Atlas app when out on hikes. 3,374' Up Monday, Aug. 23: Additional water samples are collected from water sources along the trail area., Tuesday, Aug. 24: A cell phone is delivered to the FBI for data extraction, awaiting results., Wednesday, Aug. 25: Search warrants issued for possible social media access.. In addition to the gold, minerals such as Arsenopyrite, Baryte, Calcite, Galena, Gold, Nontronite, Pitticite, Platinum, Pyrite, Quartz, Scorodite, Siderite and Sphalerite. 1170.31 m Up The couple, avid hikers from Mariposa, were reported missing by a family friend a day before authorities found them. Officials shut down a trail in Sierra National Forest west of Yosemite near where a Northern California family and their dog were found dead. The sheriffs office plans to share another update when toxicology results are back, and there is no current timeframe for that.. The couple had been inseparable since they met several years ago, and forwent a large ceremony to wed in San Franciscos City Hall, said family friend Steve Jeffe, who also lives in Mariposa. ", Become a member of StrangeOutdoors for exclusive content, See the latest Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, Read other strange stories from the Sierra National Forest and Yosemite, The Sandra Johnsen Hughes disappearance in Sierra National Forest, The bizarre disappearance of Stacey Arras from Yosemite National Park, The strange disappearance and death of Jeannie Hesselschwerdt in Yosemite National Park, The puzzling disappearance of Max Schweitzer in Yosemite National Park, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gerrish-2748376/?originalSubdomain=uk, https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-mystery-autopsy-fails-to-reveal-cause-of-death-for-family-and-dog-found-dead-on-hiking-trial, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/poison-algae-on-gold-trail-may-have-killed-family-59vmwjf3q, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hites-cove-trail?u=m, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hites_Cove,_California, https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Not-one-clue-The-mystery-is-only-deepening-16401921.php, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9914627/Deaths-husband-wife-baby-treated-homicide.html, http://merced-river.org/HitesCoveTrail.html, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Unknown-hazards-Yosemite-trail-Calif-family-dead-16429088.php, https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF/posts/3133758160228109, https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article253864053.html?fbclid=IwAR0_Sv0T7TGRIEuytyuph8M5f50VWWgo4skgRuB3YaHIUKjO6JPK31FMNYU, https://kmph.com/news/local/mariposa-county-sheriff-multiple-causes-of-death-ruled-out-in-death-of-california-family, https://people.com/human-interest/cause-of-death-revealed-for-california-family-who-died-on-hiking-trail/, Tagged: The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, john gerrish death, ellen chung death, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, John Gerrish autopsy, Savage lundy trail deaths, Sign Up now for a one-off fee for exclusive access to many articles, The strange disappearance of Daniel Robinson from Buckeye in Arizona, The strange death of Lucas Renoud at the Hrisson waterfalls in the Jura Mountains, The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, The mysterious disappearance and death of Nicola Bulley in Lancashire, The strange disappearance of the YouTube Survivalist Finn Creaney in the Scottish Highlands, The shocking disappearance of Theresa Ann Bier, The disturbing disappearance of Daylenn Pua from Hawaiis Stairway To Heaven walkway, The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park, The Dead man who saved Brandon Day and Gina Allen on Mount San Jacinto, The strange disappearance and death of Geoff Hague in the Great Smoky Mountains, The weird disappearance of Garrett Bardsley from Cuberant Lake in Utah, The bizarre death of Cullen Finnerty in the Michigan wilderness, The puzzling disappearance of Barbara Bolick from the Bitterroot Mountains, The strange disappearance of Mike Hearon from the Great Smoky Mountains, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) report June 2021, The bizarre disappearance and death of Adrienne Quintal in Michigan, The strange disappearance of Fern Baird from the Prairie Peak Trail in Idaho, The strange deaths of David Horesay and Frederick Hardisty in the Northwest Territories, The disappearance of Steven Kubacki in the Lake Michigan Triangle, The lucky survival story of Chris Staff in the White Mountains - hallucinations, bugs and hunger, Mysterious UFO phenomena begins to be acknowledged officially by the US Military, The mysterious disappearance of Michael Bryson from the Hobo Campground in Oregon. The Mariposa County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that search teams located the family's vehicle near the national forest gate that leads to Hite's Cove, and then found the family's bodies on the trail shortly thereafter. 3,840' Down The body of Oski the dog was also examined by veterinary experts at the University of California, Davis. Ellen Chung, 31, worked as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant with their daughter. For all of the fretting I did in my mind about the drive, it wasnt as bad as I built it up to be. There is a known toxic harmful algal bloom on the south fork of the Merced River, a couple miles from where the family was found dead, which is among hazards still being considered in their deaths. Tracy Barbutes / Special to The Chronicle, Heres where California reservoir levels stand after this weeks rains. On Aug. 20, Mitchell said toxicology results can take up to six weeks, and sometimes longer. The bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Muji, and their dog were all found Aug. 17 near Savage Lundy Trail, in a remote area known as Devils Gulch in the Southfork of the Merced River and Hite Cove Trailhead. Sheriff Jeremy Briese said, There are those different options that are out there, mineshafts and off-gassing potential and were learning more with our partners in the Forest Service and public health on the toxicity of the algae blooms that theyre posting about. But Briese said they could not find any disused shafts in the vicinity, We have not found any old mine shafts near the area. to Scott Rd. Alerts & Warnings. In a public announcement Sierra National Forest authorities said the closure was ordered "to provide. Initial autopsy. Learn More. Investigators combed the lower section of the trail for unreported mines, but experts said it likely would take an exposure inside a mine shaft to kill a family. 13177.7 m Up Sheriff officials said temperatures there appeared to range from 103 and 109 in certain parts of that trail between 11:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Aug. 15, the day the family is believed to have been hiking it. The family was reported missing at about 11 pm on August 16, after their daughters nanny found that they had not returned home and friends and work colleagues could not contact them. The sky was becoming overcast and we could finally feel a cooling breeze. Nothing significant is found. Multi-use trail primarily used by motorcycles and mountain bikes. Mitchell said samples were sent to both the California State Water Resources Board Board and independent labs for testing, and that further assistance for additional testing is being coordinated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Trailhead on Savage-Lundy Trail in Sierra NF, Sierra Nevada near Midpines, CA Wildlife Watching Report Top Animal Species 1. . Thisouting was peppered with firsts, but itwas the last time I willquit a hike for the first time. Sorry you didnt reach the destination, but glad you made it back safely. In October 2019, Rachel Lakoduk and in May 2021, Tom Simonseth, vanished without a trace from the beautiful Hidden Lake Lookout Trail in Washington. Continue reading Leave a comment Mariposa County Sheriff's spokeswoman, Kristie Mitchell, said "Coming across a scene where everyone involved, including the family dog that is deceased, that is not a typical thing that we have seen or other agencies have seen. Mindat.org describes the geology of this area as follows: The district is underlain by graphitic, schist and slate, quartzite, and hornfels. Gerrish had done well for himself and was extremely generous, Jeffe said, always sharing his good fortune with friends. 8.5 miles - 5 miles of the trail consists of a steep southern exposure path with little to no trees or shade. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. In September, Sierra national forest closed trails near where the family died, citing "unknown hazards found in and near the Savage Lundy trail". Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Following the discovery of the bodies, although there was no sign of foul play or of trauma to the bodies, but in accordance with procedure, the investigation was classified as a homicide, pending results from the coroners post-mortem examinations and toxicology tests. The mysterious deaths of the young California family and their dog while out hiking along the remote Savage Lundy Trail in Devil's Gulch in Sierra National Forest in Mariposa, California on August 15, 2021, should have us all on high alert as we enter this new high heat era that scientists know very little about. A high clearance vehicle is needed. Major snowstorm might leave you stranded, New 101 express lanes opens in Bay Area. The pair also mixed with the burner crowd, people who visit the famous arts and culture festival known as Burning Man in a Nevada desert. Localities El Portal Yosemite West Midpines Hamlet, 7 miles southwest Foresta Hamlet, 7 miles northeast Beautiful pictures! Water the family was carrying also is being tested. There are no toxic gases in any of these mines up there, Wildt said. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and graduated from UC Davis. Thursday, Aug. 19: Autopsies are completed on the family and dog, all currently pending toxicology.. To get to a depth where you have a problem like that its really hard to believe they would do that with a little kid, Mitchell said. This picture shows the beginning of the trailhead and you wouldnt really know it if you didnt know where it was. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We headed downhill as a group, and Leslietook off quickly ahead of everyone. While the couple took a trip abroad a few years ago, they let Jeffe stay in their San Francisco loft. This trail is not for everyone though. Plastic Bank and Ocean Bound Social Plastic, Really? Briese said that his deputies were working to support the victims devastated families. We sent word to Leslie who was much farther ahead that she could ride back with them. The purpose of Forest Order No. Check out this 5.0-mile out-and-back trail near Dunsmuir, California. I think it's going to be a very long and in-depth, thorough investigation because it isn't as clear cut as what some cases are.". We caught uptotwo Scout Masters and stopped to talk with them while taking a moment to catch our breath. As I swabbed beaded drops of sweat from my brow, Rita asked, Do you want to do it, Janet? Quitting the hike didnt feel right, but the haunting thoughts of thejeep road unnerved me. The Savage/lundy trail is 2.6 miles long. We were surprised to find an old cook stove, along with a few campfire rings. There are no restrooms or services. 4 / The family and their dog were found dead early on the morning of Aug. 17 about 2 miles up the Savage-Lundy Trail, around 3,100 feet elevation . This was once a mining community after the discovery of gold there in 1861, but it burnt down in 1924. Below is a list of common species of Plants, Animals, and Fungi found on the South Fork Merced River. He investigates stories in the East Bay and beyond. At 3.20 am, the sheriffs office reserved a search helicopter for daybreak. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He had worked for Google for 15 years, starting in the London office in 2006. Each week the Sierra Hiking Seniors (a group of overone hundred hikers)put out an e-mail announcing two hikes for the following week. Savage-Lundy Trail in Devil's Gulch near Hites Cove Bookmark Details Person 3 Comments 0 Bookmark Share Leave a comment Report Type Last Known Location Datum Announcement This is the latest estimate regarding the last known location for Miju, John Gerrish and Ellen Chung. School Food Waste Is a Big Problem, Lets Fix It, The Climate Crisis and the Catholic Churchs Mind-blowing Land Holdings, Leonardo DiCaprios Loud Voice Celebrates Lulas Win in Brazil that Ousted Bolsonaro, What Everyone Ought to Know about DiCaprio, Kerry and the Global Methane Pledge. It is more easily accessible from Highway 140 and is also well known for its poppy displaying spring. The only connection the two have is that the trailhead for the Savage-Lundy Trail is on Hite's Cove Road. They liked to tote the girl around on hikes and to social events, Jeffe said, recalling the last time he saw the family during a Fourth of July get-together at Jeffes house. 12.8 km Investigators have been very tight-lipped about their investigation, not providing any additional details after they learned about the high levels of ATX in the Merced Rivers due to toxic algal blooms. Ellen Chung, left, and her husband, Jonathan Gerrish. Hiking Trails Near Where Family of 3 Mysteriously Died Closed Due to 'Unknown Hazards' John Gerrish, Ellen Chung and their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, were found dead alongside the family dog on. 32,854' Down Cases like this require us to be methodical and thorough, Briese said, while also reaching out to every resource we can find to help us bring those answers to them as quickly as we can.. This is about an injury or accident 42 Pseudacris sierra Latest Observation Be the first to note an animal in this ecoregion Add an Animal See More Birding Report Top Bird Species 1. While the terrain there is rugged and remote, its a popular destination in Mariposa County for outdoor recreation, including hiking, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said. . The Hite's Cove Trail is a very popular trail that people use to get down to those old mining camps. We've looked at lighting strikes in the area. Footman Ridge area. Mitchell said it is very hot at this time of year and there is . Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese sheriff rescinded that on Wednesday, both lifting the hazmat status and stating that there were no mines within three miles of where the bodies were found, according to the Sacramento Bee. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 13 min to complete. This was once a mining community after the discovery of gold there in 1861, but it burnt down in 1924. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Leslie, a woman whom I met for the first timerodewith me over the rugged terrain. Advertisement Investigators had previously ruled out gunshots, any other type of weapon or chemical hazards along the Savage Lundy Trail as potential causes of death, but hadn't not ruled out possible toxins in the areas near the trail prior to determining a cause of death. Oct. 21, 2021. The family accessed the hiking path at the end of Hites Cove Road, which quickly changes from paved road to gravel to dirt. Sheriffs officials said the algae bloom is one of the avenues being explored. Looking into Devils Gulch canyon from the Hite Cove Trail, where a family of hikers were found dead. The Mariposa County Coroner is awaiting toxicology results from the bodies, which could take several weeks. By the time they met the Savage Lundy Trail, it was hotter still 100 degrees. Heat exhaustion and stroke are very real dangers on this trail. Detectives continue conducting interviews and investigating all potential possible explanations for the death of the Gerrish/Chung family, Mitchell said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon. . Check out their new restaurant in Fresno, This Fresno brewery and restaurant is opening its fourth location. Friends and family were making their way from around the globe to Mariposa, where Gerrish and Chung had recently resettled after leaving the rush of San Francisco during the pandemic. A family of hikers was found dead on the trail. When will it re-open? The Savage-Lundy trail runs through an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil's Gulch, ending at the South Fork Merced River. 24th August 2021. in. We walked through the brush and around switchbacks steering clear of poison oak that crept onto the trail. Traversing it again seemed harderthan walking uphill in the heat. Ellen was 20-30 feet away further up the Trail. Software engineer Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, 31, and their one-year-old daughter Muji, were discovered by crews in an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil's Gulch on August 17. Her stories have been recognized with Best of the West and McClatchy Presidents awards, and many top awards from the California News Publishers Association. The long trailhead access road was not suited for cars with low clearance, so I brought thetruck. Since then, the Mariposa County Sheriffs Office, which is investigating the deaths along with the California Department of Justice, has ruled out weapons and chemical hazards along the Savage Lundy Trail as contributing factors in the family's mysterious death, according to the Sacramento Bee. The following year, he was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for his work covering the Camp Fire. John was supposed to work Monday and never showed up and that raised more concerns. 835' Up Once we got toward the bottom, there was poison oak near along the trail, sometimes whipping our legs. Heres where and when, Mysterious ball seen beside road was 14-foot invasive snake, New York officials say. Also nice to hike without mountain bikes flying down the trail! The Ferguson Fire blasted through the area in 2018, scorching more than 96,000 acres along the hiking path. The vehicle was parked a mile and a half from where their bodies were found near the Sierra National Forest gate leading to Hites Cove in the Jerseydale area and was the start point for the popular Savage Lundy and Hites Cove Trails. The trail follows up above the Merced River. Briese said mines werent found close to the family. The family was found dead Tuesday on the Savage-Lundy Trail in Devil's Gulch near Hites Cove, a popular hiking destination. The family is believed to have hiked on foot 2.2 miles from Hites Cove Trail Head to U.S. Forest Service Trail 20E01.4 where the elevation is 1930ft and estimated temperatures were between 92 and 99 degrees. Follow Hiking Yosemite and Beyond on WordPress.com. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 23 min to complete. The family also had a backpack with a Camelback bladder that held a small amount of water and this was sent for testing in case it was in some way contaminated. The area is populated by pines, incense cedar and oaks many killed in the 2018 Ferguson Fire. Devil Gulch Valley in Colorado, United States Devils Gulch Depression in Ventura County, United States In the Area Devil Gulch is situated close to the hamlets Clearing House and Darrah . One of the unique things about this trail is that it goes through a stand of Knobcone Pine. John was in a seated position, with the baby beside him along with the dog, and Ellen was just a little farther up the hill. Results from those tests also are pending. Its south-southeast orientation exposes it to constant . A tragic whodunit is unfolding in California, where the mysterious deaths of a young family out for a hike in the Sierra National Forest have investigators scrambling for answers.