A cadaver dog picked up a scent on the north face of Grand Mogul in the Sawtooth Mountains over the weekend, indicating that the search for 24-year-old Jon Francis, who went missing after climbing the peak July 15, may be nearing an end.
"This was our 34th day of searching," said Jon's father, David Francis, who's running for a seat in the Minnesota state Senate. "We've covered a lot of areas, and we've narrowed it down to the north side of Grand Mogul.
"We have a high level of confidence that's where Jon is—on the north side near the northeast ridge at about 8,000 feet, or perhaps higher."
David Francis said he was with searchers on the flanks of the 9,733-foot peak, located just southwest of Redfish Lake, when the dog picked up the scent.
"She was working hard, going back and forth and getting agitated," he said about the cadaver search dog, which is from Madison, Wisc. "She moved as high as she could, but she got into a steep, slippery scree area and couldn't go any higher. We feel Jon is above there somewhere."
David Francis said the area, which is above tree line, is checkered with crevasses and granite cliffs.
"What we need now are very skilled, experienced mountaineers with technical skills because this is a steep, challenging area," he said. "We need to brief them ahead of time to make sure they're qualified. We've turned a lot of people back."
He added that since the Redfish Lake ferry service has closed for the season, "we need some kind of boat service."
Jon Francis was the director of youth ministry at Ascension Lutheran Church in Ogden, Utah. He was spending his fourth summer at the Luther Bible Camp near Alturas Lake, west of Smiley Creek, when he went missing.
Jon was a former cross-country runner and experienced backpacker certified in Wilderness First Aid. He had led trips in the Sawtooth and White Cloud mountains and had climbed several demanding peaks including Thompson, Snowyside, Castle and Borah.
The Francis family was initially critical of Custer County's search and rescue efforts and eventually hired Stanley-based Sawtooth Mountain Guides to conduct a private search.
"We've been at battle stations for two weeks," David Francis told the Mountain Express in early August. "I'm angry now. It's been a crash course on search and rescue. The things that needed to be done never got done."
Using their political ties, the Francises leveraged additional support for the search through Idaho Gov. Jim Risch, who met with the family at Redfish Lake July 23.
In the early days of the search, Erik Leidecker, a co-owner of Sawtooth Mountain Guides, climbed Grand Mogul and found Jon Francis' log entry:
"07/15/06: Jon Francis, LHBC (Luther Heights Bible Camp) and Ogden Utah. Climbed avalanche field to east face and east ridge. Great times bouldering! All Glory to God for the climb and beautiful Sawtooths."
More than 300 people, mostly volunteers, have participated in the search since it began, according to David Francis.
With winter rapidly approaching, the Francises hope to corral a group of experienced mountaineers to work alongside Sawtooth Mountain Guides in recovering Jon's body this week.
"Our continued gratitude to so many volunteers from Idaho who have come out to search for Jon and support us," David Francis said. "We're uplifted by the support from the people of Idaho and especially the managers of the Redfish Lake Lodge, who have just been so generous."
The Francis family can be contacted at (612) 963-6772 or (208) 721-0403 or via e-mail at capfrancis@msn.com.
Jon Francis
