|
 Several
years ago Brian Lickman returned again to the
mountains he loved in quest of the Dutchman’s Lost
Mine. Brian had hunted this elusive mine for more
than 30 years, visiting with many of the old timers
who lived in the mountains in past and listening to
their stories.
He especially enjoyed sitting around the campfire
and talking to Al Morrow in Needle Canyon. His
experience in the mountains, both hiking and
searching, compares with any other Dutch hunter.
Brian is a very quiet individual most of the time
unless he becomes focused on one of his favorite
topics, such as lost mines.
Brian decided to return to the Superstition Mountain
for a few days and search the Dutchman’s Mine in
another location around October 7, 1985. The
temperature often hovered around 95 degrees
Fahrenheit this time of the year. Not only was the
temperature warm; the humidity was high and the
gnats could be troublesome. Brian liked it this way
because it provided him with absolute solitude to
search.
He asked Gary Feldman to give him a ride out to
First Water Trail Head. Brian said he would be back
in four days. He had decided to explore a deep,
rugged, narrow side canyon just above the Lower La
Barge Canyon Box. This particular canyon was filled
with large boulders that required climbing them
individually or jumping from one to the other.
 As
Brian traversed one boulder then another he made a
note in his mind how far away water was in La Barge
Canyon which he knew was important for his survival.
Remembering the location of this water is probably
what later saved Brian’s life.
As Brian jumped from boulder to boulder he realized
it was getting rougher and more difficult to make
his way up the canyon. He decided to start back
down.
On one large boulder he lost his balance and jumped,
landing on his heels. He felt an electrical shock in
his nervous system when he landed. Suddenly he
realized he had injured himself quite seriously, and
reality struck!
He was eight miles from the trail head in a deep
rugged canyon and no way out. He could only crawl on
his hands and knees. He was quite sure he had broken
or cracked bones in his feet because of the severe
pain. His first thought, realizing he couldn’t hike
out, was to find water. He then hoped somebody would
miss him and they would start a search. After two
days he was able to crawl back down Deering Canyon
to the first pool of water in La Barge Canyon. Brian
knew he could last two weeks without food, but only
a few days without water.
Some of Brian’s thoughts focused on his children and
then on other things that were real to him. His solo
practice of searching for the Dutchman’s Mine had
put his life in harm’s way. After the fourth day in
the mountains Brian was becoming concerned about his
survival.
Gary Feldman returned in four days on October 10,
1985, to pick Brian up and found he hadn’t returned
to the trail head. The following day, October 11,
Gary notified the authorities Brian was missing.
 The
Maricopa and Pinal County Sheriff’s Offices
initiated a search and rescue mission. Many had
given up hope of finding Brian alive because of the
heat and lack of water in the mountains. The aerial
search and ground search went on all day and
produced no clues or signs of Brian.
On the second day of the aerial search Brian’s old
friend and prospecting partner, Ron Feldman, heard
about the search for Brian from his mother. He drove
out to First Water and told the deputies he probably
knew exactly where Bryan could be found. He said
Bryan was probably in a very narrow deep canyon
called Deering Canyon off of La Barge Canyon. The
searchers couldn’t find it on the map so they
assumed Feldman didn’t know what he was talking
about.
After convincing one of the deputies, Ron was put on
an Arizona National Guard helicopter and directed
the pilot to Deering Canyon. Within minutes they
located Brian lying near a water hole at the
confluence of Deering and La Barge Canyon. The
helicopter landed and the rescue team picked up
Brian.
October 12, 1985 was a lucky day for Brian M.
Lickman. He had escaped from Deering Canyon with the
help of a rescue team and his friend Ron Feldman. He
had broken both heels. It was impossible to walk
without help.
Going alone in the Superstition Mountain, whether
prospecting, hiking or riding horseback is always a
risky venture. Experienced veterans of the desert
always recommend or suggest carrying sufficient
water and telling someone where you are going and
when you expect to return. These two simple rules
can save your life in an emergency.
A similar incident occurred in 2007 when Lon McAdams
fell and broke his knee cap in Rough Canyon. Lon was
rescued seven days later because he left a detailed
itinerary with his wife.
Brian was rescued with two broken heals 12 years
earlier because he told somebody when he expected to
return. When Brian didn’t show up at the trail head
the authorities were notified and Brian was
eventually rescued.
These two stories should be very specific reminders
of how important it is to leave somebody an accurate
itinerary and date of return when traveling solo in
the mountains. Failure to do so usually ends in
tragedy.
Lon’s love is photography and that is what attracts
him to the beauty of the Superstition Wilderness
Area. Brian will continue to search the mountains to
fulfill his dreams of some day locating the famed
Dutchman’s Lost Mine. Brian Lickman walks in the
footsteps of “Coronado’s Children.” |
