Poet versus the Volcano

[Taro Toporific]

University of Wyoming Professor Missing In Japan
NPR - All Things Considered, April 30, 2009 · Poet and professor Craig Arnold went missing on a Japanese island three days ago where he had gone to see a local active volcano...

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via Find Craig Arnold | Facebook
Our dear friend and an exceptionally talented poet, Craig Arnold, whom some of you know, has gone missing on the small volcanic island of Kuchino-erabu-shima [Kagoshima Pref] while on a creative exchange fellowship. AS OF 4/30 the authorities are on the fourth day of searching for Craig, and are scouring the small island (of only 160 inhabitants) with dogs and helicopters. We have not confirmed how long the authorities will continue the search. We can not let there be a lag in this search while finding Craig alive is still a real possibility. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIND HIM.

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Craig Arnold - Wikipedia

[Taro Toporific]

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harr...#comment-10412

THE DETAILS via poetryfoundation.org

Monday April 27th (Japanese time) he arrived with the 2:50 pm municipal ferry from Yakusima on the island of Kuchino-erabu and checked in to the local “Watanabe” inn, the only one on the island. He was with 2 Japanese tourists who had reservations. He did not have one. (They must have helped him check in.) He had traveled to the island to visit the volcano, as he has been working on a book on the subject of volcanoes for some time.

His plan was to stay only one night and leave the next day. (Craig has visited many volcanoes around the world in recent years as is very experienced with visiting them.)

He immediately left his 3 bags at the inn and departed around 3 pm on foot to the next village, taking only his walking sticks. He was wearing black or dark colors: long pants, a dark hat, a nylon jacket. His Japanese iPhone was on his person but has not been reachable due to inconsistent reception on the island. The exclusive provider of IPhone service, Softbank, has been contacted by the police in an attempt to utilize the built-in GPS capabilities of the phone.

At the village, someone with a car drove him to the entrance to the path leading up the mountain to the volcano. There are 4 paths to the volcano which are obvious and in good condition. He was taken to the entrance of a path next to a dam where evidence collected by the police suggests he ascended. His footprints have been found. The police have not found evidence of a return trip along that path. The area is densely forested until reaching the summit area, caldera, of the volcano where there is little vegetation.

The police stated that the path to that area is clear but that finding the path on the descent could pose problems so it is likely that he may not have found his way back to the path he entered by.

When Craig did not return to the inn by 8 pm, the inn staff searched for him by car, driving to the village. Unsuccessful, they returned to the inn and called the local fire brigade at 9 pm who responded immediately and searched until midnight.

Day 2 (Tues, April 28 JT) 5 police officers (under the direction of Mr. Kazuhara) arrived from Yakusima that morning with new assets: cars, search dogs, police persons, a helicopter. 40 total persons now working on this: 30 local fire reserve persons and 10 police persons and officials. They searched the trail he took but did not complete an exhaustive search of all 4 trails. One individual climbed all the way to the top. The area was circled several times by the helicopter and they also flew around the coastline. I contacted them directly at the end of the 2nd search day: 6:30pm. (5:30 am this morning, Wed April 29th U.S. time). They were debriefing and planning for day 3, with a plan to concentrate on the possible alternative paths down from the volcano that he may have taken by mistake and the surrounding area.

Day 3, the official required last day of the search, begins tonight. They are only required by law to search for 3 days. Extension procedures must be arranged with Mr. Kawahigashi and may require payment. Other than the helicopter, no higher level assets have been deployed at this time. Since the focus is on a “boots-on-the-ground” search and rescue (the forest makes visibility from the air limited) more people should be deployed immediately to assist.

[L S]

Perhaps the North Koreans are looking for better English language teacher talent?

[Mike Oxlong]

His plan was to stay only one night and leave the next day. (Craig has visited many volcanoes around the world in recent years as is very experienced with visiting them.)

He immediately left his 3 bags at the inn and departed around 3 pm on foot to the next village, taking only his walking sticks. He was wearing black or dark colors: long pants, a dark hat, a nylon jacket. His Japanese iPhone was on his person but has not been reachable due to inconsistent reception on the island. The exclusive provider of IPhone service, Softbank, has been contacted by the police in an attempt to utilize the built-in GPS capabilities of the phone.

At the village, someone with a car drove him to the entrance to the path leading up the mountain to the volcano. There are 4 paths to the volcano which are obvious and in good condition. He was taken to the entrance of a path next to a dam where evidence collected by the police suggests he ascended. His footprints have been found. The police have not found evidence of a return trip along that path. The area is densely forested until reaching the summit area, caldera, of the volcano where there is little vegetation.

An "experienced" hiker/volcano explorer leaves his accomodation at three in the afternoon, hitches a ride to the trailhead, and sets out sometime in late afternoon to ascend the volcano?! Right, real experienced...

Even with relatively low peaks of 500-700 metres, in heavily forested areas with rough ground, going can be pretty slow.

[Taro Toporific]

Originally Posted by Mike Oxlong

Even with relatively low peaks of 500-700 metres, in heavily forested areas with rough ground, going can be pretty slow.

The first thing* I thought was that Craig Arnold fell down a lava tube. I have almost slipped and fell down an overgrown opening over a lava tube at the base of Mount Fuji.

*Actually the second thing…
He’s a poet and suicide
is always the first thing.

Fissures and Tubes (lava tubes)
When you walk the cold lava fields you will see that there are many cracks and fissures in the ground. Some cracks are caused by heating and cooling effects, while others are caused by pressure from lava moving under the ground or by earthquakes that have split the lava. Whatever the cause, a fissure can be anywhere from a few inches deep to practically any depth (we’ve certainly seen fissures over 40 to 50 feet deep). The edge of a fissure can crumble so it is best to examine a fissure and figure out the safest way over it.
The cold lava field has many small hills called tumulus. These are areas under which a lava tube runs and the pressure of the lava caused the rock to bulge upwards. Most tumulus are fine to climb over - and offer you a good view of the surrounding area - but you should be careful of the fissures that almost all tumulus have. As stated above, when stopping to look at something always look around you before starting walk again. Too often I have stopped to examine something, taken a slight step backward forgetting there was a fissure behind me and scrapped myself pretty severely.
Try to avoid any area where the ground sounds hollow under you. If you brought a hiking stick, use it to thump the ground. A hollow area indicates a lava tube is under you and there is an increased chance that you could accidentally break through into the tube. Tubes can be anywhere from a few inches deep to 40 or 50 feet deep - so accidentally breaking through a tube can be a life threatening situation. The danger of lava tubes changes depending on where in the lava field you are.

[Taro Toporific]

"...not expected this to be so easy. In less than an hour you have found the road that circles the base of the volcano. All that remains is to walk around to the south face where, judging by the map, another road squiggles its way up the crater....
...This seems like an opportune moment to reconsider your plans for the morning. Luckily there is another road down, and you take it. The metal guardrails have been eaten half-away, and they twist off easily in your hand...."

via Volcano Pilgrim Five months in Japan as a wandering poet -- Craig Arnold

[Taro Toporific]

--UPDATE--

American hiker still missing as Okinawa airmen join search
May 1, 2009 | Stars and Stripes
....The search was suspended after three days when no trace of the poet was found. However, it was resumed when a friend of Arnold’s in the States reported that Arnold had accessed his Facebook page [via his iPhone?] for a minute Thursday....Arnold has not responded to calls to his cell phone. He added that the search will extend through Sunday....
An island resident gave Arnold a ride to the foot of the precipitous mountain before he walked into the dense jungle alone, [Kagoshima Prefectural Police spokesman] Kuzuhara said in a telephone interview with Stars and Stripes.
The islander told police the American carried just two walking sticks and no water or food....Mount Shindake is not a place where most hikers would go, especially alone, Kuzuhara said. An off-limits sign is posted at the head of a trail leading to the mountain.
"It is a very dangerous place, with the entire mountain enveloped in sulfur gas," he said.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Originally Posted by Taro Toporific

--UPDATE--
[b]
However, it was resumed when a friend of Arnold’s in the States reported that Arnold had accessed his Facebook page [via his iPhone?] for a minute Thursday

Assuming his friend wasn't lying to get the search restarted, it could just be a case of someone going to Facebook on a computer where Arnold's account was permanently logged on.

[Mike Oxlong]

Yeah, if I was lost on a volcano spewing sulfurous gas and partially covered in heavy jungle, when I finally got phone reception I'd go and check my Facebook page...

[Taro Toporific]

Originally Posted by Mike Oxlong

Yeah, if I was lost on a volcano spewing sulfurous gas and partially covered in heavy jungle, when I finally got phone reception I'd go and check my Facebook page...

Well actually, few times day when my iTouch is just able to get momentary reception way out in boonies in Shikoku, it automatically sends out my twitter posts in the queue (which in turn could be set up to also access/post to facebook). Later, when I am back at a real computer I am always confused by my posts made at 3pm when I was driving a skid-loader down the mountainside after cutting trees all day.

However, I gotta agree with SJ that most likely this is just a case of someone going to Facebook on a computer where Arnold's account was permanently logged on.