Death Clouds on MT Baldy: Tucson's Lost Tragedy

by Cathy Hufault

Haunting historical adventure drama relays harrowing accounts of rescue, survival, bravery and tragic loss. Nov.15,1958. An arctic-like blizzard roars out of nowhere across the mild desert terrain of southern Arizona. Boy scouts are feared caught out in the open, perhaps buried under the three to seven feet of snowfall in the mountains. Cowboys urge their horses through the chest high snow, hikers push through monster snowdrifts, and helicopters hover at dangerous altitudes in their struggle to find the boys before they die. Re-live the courage, true-grit and anguish on the trail.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

290 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2010

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book since it first was published and it languished on my shelf ever since. I'm really not sure why I waited so long to read it and I'm very glad I finally did.

I was already familiar as I am a Scouter in Catalina Council where the events described took place. I have met both the author and her brother, Ralph, a survivor. I was surprised to discover a know several folks involved in the search as well.

Cathy did an amazing job researching this book and wrote an engaging, fast-paced account evidenced by my reading it in 2 days. The sheer volume of details she was able to uncover 50 years after the fact shows how dogged she was in her research.

This was a story that needed telling; thanks Cathy.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was October 2018 and a warm day when I was visiting Madera Canyon for a family picnic and noticed the Boy Scout Memorial plaque for David Greenberg 12 years old, Mike Early 16 years old and Michael J. La Noue 13 years old placed by Troop 301 and Venture Crew 301 at the beginning of the trail up to Mt Baldy. The Scout motto Be Prepared is underlined and underneath is written ‘before you hike to the summit. ‘ I was intrigued and wondered what had happened to these boys in 1958.

I later found Cathy Hufault’s book ‘Death Clouds on Mt Baldy Tucson’s Lost Tragedy’ in the gift shop at the Santa Rita Lodge, bought it and now know what happened to those boys. One can only imagine how sad it must have been for their families and everyone involved in the search. What a strange twist of fate that intense storm was and how lucky for the three young boys, Lou, Ronnie and Ralph who survived.

[Caprice · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent commemoration indeed. A MUST READ for all Boy Scouts and outdoor enthusiasts in southern Arizona.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a detailed telling of the tragic loss of three Scouts on a hike in the mountains south of Tucson, Arizona in November 1958. My interest in the events described in this book was piqued before a day trip to Madera Canyon with accounts of the history of the area. The memorial to the scouts and a brief description of the tragedy was in some of the material I read before going. At the Santa Rita Lodge gift shop I saw the book and bought it because it hit a few of my favorite themes: true event, Scouting (I am a former Scoutmaster), local story, local author and a location I have visited to place the story.

As I sat on the porch of the Lodge thumbing through the book I recognized the picture and name of one of the surviving scouts as someone I had recently met, Ralph Coltrin, the author's brother. When I saw him several days later I asked about it and got a short version of what happened, now over 60 years ago. I was more interested than ever to read it.

I can highly recommend the book. Even though the outcome of the story is known, the descriptions of what the families and searchers went through is very emotional. The tension comes through quite well. The snowstorm that trapped the hikers was unprecedented and nothing like it has happened since. It is hard to envision such a storm when living or traveling through Tucson but the author makes it feel like you are in the story. The author is not a professional writer but the tone fits the narrative well, almost as if you are reading a journal.

The book includes photos and maps to help visualize the story. Overall it was very well done. Locals or visitors to Tucson should find this fascinating, especially if you have hiked in the surrounding mountains.

[Bonnie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Cathy Hufault has accomplished the intricate and seemingly impossible task of relating a real-life 1958 Tucson disaster with compassion, empathy, and finite attention to the crucial details. Her free-flowing narrative relates the saga of six innocent young boy scouts who set off on a beautiful Saturday morning to hike a steep Madeira Canyon trail when they encountered a freak unexpected blizzard by nightfall. Three were rescued the next morning; three were missing. The 19-day-long search involved hundreds who came together from all walks of life from all points in an around the Tucson, Arizona area. The story will capture your heart and encompass your soul. You will want to hug someone every time you get the chance.

It's natural to draw parallels to January 8, 2011, when a lone gunman's blizzard of bullets killed six innocent Tucsonans at a neighborhood gathering at a local grocery store on a sunny Tucson Saturday morning. Among the dead were a 9-year-old girl, a judge, and over a dozen others who were injure, including U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

In Tucson, both of these tragedies showcased how the community came together to report, respond, search, rescue, hold one another, and mourn en masse. The healing comes with time.

Excellent read.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a harrowing, heartbreaking and inspirational true story of a 1958 Boy Scout hiking excursion gone horribly wrong by a freak snowstorm in the Tucson Arizona mountains. Written by a sister of one of the hikers, it is a very readable, page turning story of a community pulling together to rescue the boys. There are many details that were specific to the era such as the early involvement of ham radio operators from across the country and ranchers on horseback in 5-7 feet of snow. As a result of the extensive search and rescue efforts many positive changes have been made and tightening of procedures related to prompt response to similar situations.

[Jeanette Finan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book recounts an overnight hike by a group of six Boy Scouts gone tragically wrong. The author Cathy Hufault, sister of one of the surviving scouts, authored this comprehensive account of those 19 days in the fall of 1958, following a record-breaking blizzard that came out of nowhere and took the young adventurers by surprise.

I was living at Ft. Huachuca, AZ when this happened and I remember it very well. Hundreds of people turned out to search in terrible weather conditions to try to find these boys. It broke everyone's heart when it became apparent that the outcome was not going t

[Joy Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the tragic story of a hike some Boy Scouts took in 1958. They started out toward Mt Baldy by Madera Canyon on a beautiful day. The weather took a rapid turn for the worse when snow started falling. This book tells the true story of the hike and subsequent rescue efforts. I found this very interesting as I am from Tucson and am familiar with many of the settings in the story.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. It kept my attention even though I knew the outcome. I recently spent a month in Patagonia looking at Mt Baldy. This story was full of interesting history and people from that area.

[TENN2ARIZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written book about the tragic events of 15 November 1958 wherein a freak heavy snow storm dumped 3-7 feet of snow in the 9400' Santa Rita Mountains trapping 3 young hikers.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a tragic incident that from page 1, almost anyone can tell it’s completely avoidable. That being said, this occurred back in the 1950’s where kids ran free over town.

Lou was extremely mature for his age and honestly, the hero of the story. He wanted to reach the top just as much as the other boys but only he had the maturity (and common sense) to stop and assume the responsibility for the two youngest boys. I can tell how grateful the author is towards Lou for making that tough decision, even though she does not directly say so.

I was also very impressed just how the Tucson community comes alongside the families in their search for the boys. Searchers endured everything from less-than ideal conditions to sicknesses to major injuries. This incident really brought the community together and those ranchers and searchers deserve recognition.

Overall, very well written book, highly recommend!

[Sbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-researched account of a tragedy in the mountains south of Tucson. As a hiker, it makes me more aware that dangerous cold and snow are part of the weather pattern for higher altitudes up from the desert floor and need to be considered on any high altitude hike here. A few years ago My husband and I were hiking in Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mts. when we passed the marker for these lost scouts on the Josephine Saddle. Now I know their story and I know about the many who searched for them more than fifty years ago.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mt. Baldy is in the Santa Rita Mountains, south of Tucson, Arizona. This is the true account of six Boy Scouts who climbed the mountains on their own to reach the very tallest peak, Mt. Baldy at 9,450 feet. Three boys returned, three did not. This highly researched book gives us the story of the unseasonal blizzard in November of 1958 and those who went way beyond their experience to hunt the three lost boys. The story is highly addictive to the very end!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not so sure the writing was that great, but the story was compelling. In November 1958 six Boy Scouts left on a hike in Madera Canyon, Arizona their goal was to reach the summit of Mt. Baldy. A freakish winter storm hit as they were hiking and "Death Clouds" is their story. It is a good read especially because of the locality. I recommend it.

[Margaret Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I live mere miles from Madera Canyon and have an excellent view of Mt. Baldy from my house. It was therefore irresistible for me to purchase this book when I discovered it for sale in the gift shop on our most recent visit to the canyon. I read it avidly in order to discover the outcome of the search for the missing Boy Scouts.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant tale of tragedy and perseverence.

[Barbara Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good, but sad