Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

I wonder what ever happened to the Four Corners ’survivalists’…

What? You dont know that story? Ah, well, its an interesting story with a few lessons for those willing to look past the obvious.

Succinctly, three buddies fancied themselves survivalists. They bought all the accoutrements, set out caches in the desert, spent plenty of time out in the sticks, etc, etc. One day they stole a water truck (yes, a water tanker truck) and when confronted by the cops, started shooting. Wound up killing the one cop and then they disappeared into the desert. The cops, naturally, responded in kind. Dogs couldnt handle the heat, thermal imaging was useless against sun-baked rocks in the background, and the trackers were stymied with simple foils. Time goes by and one day some guy breaking for lunch finds himself staring down the wrong end of a .308 sniper gun. Manages to escape and calls the cops. Another cop gets shot. This time, they manage to surround the bad guy who takes his own life. Time goes by. Many months later hunters stumble across a skeleton clad in camo. Ankle is broken, gunshot to the head. Gear and guns missing. Specualtion? He was injured in the escape after the water truck incident, busted his ankle, his buddies shot him and took his gear.

Present day: one of these guys is still unaccounted for. No sign of him has been found, although in the process of combing the desert the law *did* find other peoples caches and even an underground hidden bunker.

If youre curious, search using names “mason mcvean pilon” and read the various accounts.

For the record, Im also curious about Eric Rudolph’s story about how he managed to hide out for several years before getting caught……..