It’s been a tragic end to the search for a missing 81-year-old Vernal man who had been camping alone in the High Uintas and was last heard from on Monday, August 14th. According to Duchesne County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Travis Tucker, Joseph Weyerman had been camping in the Elkhorn Loop/Chepeta Lake area for about two weeks and was scheduled to return home Wednesday night. Weyerman’s family contacted the Sheriff’s Office late Thursday to report that he was overdue and searchers went out on foot and on horseback starting Friday, assisted by a Classic Lifeguard helicopter crew. The search took a devastating turn on Saturday when the body of the adventurous man was found at the bottom of a cliff north of Reader Lakes after finding his sleeping bag nearby. According to Sheriff’s Lt. Jeremy Curry, it appeared he had fell about 300 feet while attempting to rappel down the cliff. Searchers were unable to recover Weyerman’s body on Saturday due to the steep, rugged terrain but a group trained in high-angle rescue and recovery made plans to retrieve the body on Sunday. Weyerman had established a base camp in the Chepeta Lake area and had traveled back and forth to the camp over a two week period. Sheriff Dave Boren thanked everyone who helped with the search and offered his sincere condolences to Mr. Weyerman’s family and friends. Our radio family also extend our condolences to the family and friends left behind. Our sincere love and prayers are with you all.
