Troy Tilley Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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North Cow Creek off of the Tanner Peak Trail.
On April 26, 1998, Troy Tilley, 27, went for a simple day-hike on the Tanner Peak Trail with his stepson Drew Naylor, 11, and Drew’s friend, Josef Lippincott, 10. A spring snowstorm unexpectedly came up and suddenly blew in with freezing rain and began dumping a foot of snow on the ground. The group was caught unprepared and trapped in the blizzard as they made a camp to ride the storm out.
Two days later Troy’s wife, Jolene, returned home from a weekend in Denver and reported the group missing. For two days searchers with dogs, along with helicopters equipped with infrared sensors, searched the Tanner Peak area as local miners looked in nearby mines.
On April 30, searchers found the bodies of Drew and Josef huddled together under a tree dressed only in baseball caps, light jackets and long pants. It was determined that the two young boys succumbed to hypothermia and froze.
There wasn’t any sign of Troy Tilley.
It was believed that the two boys stayed at the camp as Tilley gone for help. On May 8, searchers found a second camp approximately two miles west of the boys’ camp with articles believed to have been left by Tilley. It was determined that Tilley became lost because he was heading in a westward direction that took him further away from help.
As the searchers continued looking for him, local tracker Don Bendell came upon Tilley’s tracks along with some bear tracks. It appeared that along the way a bear was stalking him. Tilley may have been aware of the bear closing in on him and attempted to outrun it.
One can only imagine the desperation and despair that Troy Tilley was contending with in his mind, knowing that two young boys relied upon him in this dire situation.
Tilley’s body was found on May 25, 1998, a complete month later. It was determined that he fell and struck his head, causing a fatal wound.
Their tragic story is a reminder for us to follow a few simple rules when heading out into the backcountry. Always let someone know where you are going and when to expect your return. Check the weather forecast for the area you will be heading into before departing and bring appropriate clothing and gear. Bring along a "daypack" which includes such items as a map and compass, poncho, first aid kit, matches and enough food and water to last three days. People lost in the wilderness are typically found within 72 hours (three days.)
And the best advice that could be given; stay where you are when you realize that you are lost and attempt to signal rescuers, and if in a group, stay together. Many stories, like this one, end with a camp or a stranded vehicle being located before the people.
Additional Hints
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