Poet versus the Volcano
Q: What happens when a poet takes on a Japanese volcano?
A: Mystery.
University of Wyoming Professor Missing In Japan
NPR – All Things Considered, April 30, 2009 · Poet and professor Craig Arnold went missing on a Japanese island three days ago where he had gone to see a local active volcano…more…
I actually met Craig Arnold (Wikipedia) in Denver with some his grad students—a real popular professor–good guy. He seems to love the extreme adventure, and in weird foreshadowing he has written poetry about Persephone, the queen of the Underworld—perhaps Persephone is a harsh critic. According to the special website, Find Craig Arnold | facebook.com , he has been missing for days on the small volcanic island of Kuchino-erabu-shima [Kagoshima Pref] while on a creative exchange fellowship. Authorities are scouring the small island (of only 160 inhabitants) with dogs and helicopters. findcraigarnold: “WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIND HIM.”
Location and maps shown on CNN
–UPDATE: The family has posted this on facebook today, MAY 9th.
Quote:
THANK YOU.
Our dear friends and family,
Though Craig himself has not been recovered, the amazing expert trackers of 1SRG have been able to make themselves and us certain of what has become of Craig. His trail indicates that after sustaining a leg injury, Craig fell from a very high and very dangerous cliff and there is virtually no possibility that Craig could have survived that fall. Chris will pursue what he can about getting specialists to go down into the place we know Craig is so we can bring him home, but it is very, very dangerous and we are not yet completely certain what that will require. The only relief in this news is that we do know exactly what befell Craig, and we can be fairly certain that it was very quick, and that he did not wait or wonder or suffer.
I cannot express again the profound gratitude I feel to everyone who has loved and honored Craig with their goodwill, their immense efforts and energy, and their overwhelming generosity. I believe that where he is, Craig knows.
There will be further occasion to celebrate Craig, and when I know more I will post it.
For my part, I love Craig beyond the telling of it and will always love him as immeasurably, as enduringly, as steadfastly and as unconditionally as I do now and have done these past six years. In leaving our family Craig, in a manner absolutely characteristic of his own vast generosity and capacity to inspire, brought us all closer together than we perhaps have ever been. I feel his presence, loving and understanding and funny and deeply feeling, at all times. I hope you do, too.
With love,
R.
- 
May 1st, 2009 at 10:09 am
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/04/craig-arnold-needs-our-help-urgent/comment-page-1/#comment-10412
THE DETAILS:
Monday April 27th (Japanese time) he arrived with the 2:50 pm municipal ferry from Yakusima on the island of Kuchino-erabu and checked in to the local “Watanabe” inn, the only one on the island. He was with 2 Japanese tourists who had reservations. He did not have one. (They must have helped him check in.) He had traveled to the island to visit the volcano, as he has been working on a book on the subject of volcanoes for some time.
His plan was to stay only one night and leave the next day. (Craig has visited many volcanoes around the world in recent years as is very experienced with visiting them.)
He immediately left his 3 bags at the inn and departed around 3 pm on foot to the next village, taking only his walking sticks. He was wearing black or dark colors: long pants, a dark hat, a nylon jacket. His Japanese iPhone was on his person but has not been reachable due to inconsistent reception on the island. The exclusive provider of IPhone service, Softbank, has been contacted by the police in an attempt to utilize the built-in GPS capabilities of the phone.
At the village, someone with a car drove him to the entrance to the path leading up the mountain to the volcano. There are 4 paths to the volcano which are obvious and in good condition. He was taken to the entrance of a path next to a dam where evidence collected by the police suggests he ascended. His footprints have been found. The police have not found evidence of a return trip along that path. The area is densely forested until reaching the summit area, caldera, of the volcano where there is little vegetation.
The police stated that the path to that area is clear but that finding the path on the descent could pose problems so it is likely that he may not have found his way back to the path he entered by.
When Craig did not return to the inn by 8 pm, the inn staff searched for him by car, driving to the village. Unsuccessful, they returned to the inn and called the local fire brigade at 9 pm who responded immediately and searched until midnight.
Day 2 (Tues, April 28 JT) 5 police officers (under the direction of Mr. Kazuhara) arrived from Yakusima that morning with new assets: cars, search dogs, police persons, a helicopter. 40 total persons now working on this: 30 local fire reserve persons and 10 police persons and officials. They searched the trail he took but did not complete an exhaustive search of all 4 trails. One individual climbed all the way to the top. The area was circled several times by the helicopter and they also flew around the coastline. I contacted them directly at the end of the 2nd search day: 6:30pm. (5:30 am this morning, Wed April 29th U.S. time). They were debriefing and planning for day 3, with a plan to concentrate on the possible alternative paths down from the volcano that he may have taken by mistake and the surrounding area.
Day 3, the official required last day of the search, begins tonight. They are only required by law to search for 3 days. Extension procedures must be arranged with Mr. Kawahigashi and may require payment. Other than the helicopter, no higher level assets have been deployed at this time. Since the focus is on a “boots-on-the-ground” search and rescue (the forest makes visibility from the air limited) more people should be deployed immediately to assist.
May 1st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
May 1st, 2009 at 12:53 pm
“Perhaps the North Koreans are looking for better English language teacher talent?”
May 1st, 2009 at 3:31 pm
What about using thermostatic devices from the helicopters…I’m sure they’ll find him out in no time…dog are better of course, hope he’s still alive…
May 1st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
The first thing* I thought was that Craig Arnold fell down a lava tube—Thermal imaging would never show a person underground who fell into lava tube. I have almost slipped down an overgrown opening over a lava tube at the base of Mount Fuji.
*Actually the second thing…
He’s a poet and suicide
is always the first thing.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:57 pm
via Volcano Pilgrim Five months in Japan as a wandering poet – Craig Arnold
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:45 am
–UPDATE:
via American hiker still missing as Okinawa airmen join search | Stars and Stripes.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 pm
It turns out that Craig Arnold has a dual life as “Craig Anderson” who taught briefly at UT-Austin.
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:19 pm
The wags at The ButtFudge Report are having a field day with the news…
May 5th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
UPDATE: