A Ranger Disappears In The Land Of Vortexes & The Paranormal – David Miller

⛰️ The Vanishing Ranger: The Unsolved Disappearance of David Barkley Miller

The wild heart of Arizona, particularly the breathtaking, otherworldly landscape around Sedona, is a place where natural beauty collides with persistent folklore of the strange. It is a region known for its towering red sandstone cliffs, deep canyons, and, perhaps more famously, for its supposed spiritual vortexes, UFO sightings, and pervasive aura of the paranormal. This unique environment sets the stage for a case as rare as it is baffling: the disappearance of a park ranger within the very wilderness he was tasked to protect.

This is the story of David Barkley Miller, a seasonal US Forest Ranger who vanished in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness in 1998, leaving behind only an enigmatic note and a parked vehicle.

The Man and the Mountain

David Barkley Miller was a 22-year-old in the spring of 1998, an adventurous soul raised in Bethesda, Maryland. His life was defined by the outdoors: climbing, hiking, kayaking, and a passion for exploration nurtured by earlier adventures traversing glaciers in Alaska and climbing Mount Rainier. His inherent qualities of leadership, exemplified by his frequent selection as team captain in sports, marked him as a driven and capable young man.

David’s dream job materialized in April 1998 when he was hired as a wilderness ranger for the Coconino National Forest, posted at the Beaver Creek Ranger Station near Sedona. His supervisors described him as eager, energetic, and completely willing to immerse himself in the environment.

The terrain David now patrolled was mesmerizing: the more than 47,000 acres of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, filled with red sandstone arches, pinnacles, and canyons—a magical place, historically significant with long-abandoned cliff dwellings and petroglyphs left by ancient peoples. David, who majored in religion at Bates College and spent a year studying Native American religions in New Mexico, was drawn to the region’s spiritual and natural depth.

The Fateful Hike

In May 1998, David had three scheduled days off: the 19th, 20th, and 21st. He planned to use this time for a multi-day backpacking and exploration trip into the heart of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness (RRSM).

Before leaving the Beaver Creek Ranger Station, David left a note in his crew quarters. The note was unfortunately vague regarding his precise location, which, given the vastness of the region, would prove fatal to search efforts. The unusual, almost cryptic, wording read:

“Gone for two nights in RRSM wilderness. Will return with Wally Mala Dave.”

We know virtually nothing about the specific gear, food, or water David carried. He grabbed his pack, got into his green Subaru Outback, and headed toward Sedona. The last person to see him alive was a co-worker, David Mets, whom he passed on State Route 179 as Miller drove toward his destination.

David ultimately made it to the Bear Sign Trailhead (which also serves the Vultee Arch Trail), parked his car, and vanished into the wilderness.

The Alarm and the Scanty Clues

When David failed to report for his 7:00 a.m. shift on Friday, May 22nd, his supervisor, Terry Adams, grew concerned. Initial checks by other rangers soon confirmed the discovery of David’s unoccupied Subaru at the Bear Sign Trailhead. A serious situation was at hand, and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office was notified.

The only physical clues available to the authorities were:

The Trail Register: David signed the register for the Vultee Arch Trail on Tuesday, May 19th. He added a critical, yet still vague, note: “3-day tour to ridge.”

The Gear: Rangers initially believed he took his blue dome tent, but it was found back in his crew quarters, meaning he likely carried only a sleeping bag or a simpler shelter. Since he left while other residents were away, no one could confirm what clothing or essential supplies he actually took.

The Vague Notes: The meaning of “3-day tour to ridge” and the cryptic “Wally Mala” were unknowns.

The Sheriff’s Deputy, familiar with the treacherous canyons of the Red Rock Wilderness, immediately called for help.

The Search: A Needle in the Haystack

Initial mounted and aerial searches of the canyons, exposed cliff faces, and the area surrounding Vultee Arch through Sterling Canyon found nothing. The aerial teams were unable to spot anything unusual against the overwhelming backdrop of bright red sandstone.

The terrain was the primary obstacle. The search area, determined by the trail register and the assumption of a multi-day hike, spanned approximately 16 square miles of steep ridges, canyon lands, and dense thickets. Much of the area was deemed inaccessible without specialized climbing gear—and without knowing David’s specific intentions or equipment, search coordinators were essentially operating blind.

The search strategy was methodical but exhausting:

Grid and Re-search: Starting Saturday, May 23rd, teams searched and re-searched trails in the region—Bears Canyon, Secret Canyon, and Brin’s Mesa—using mounted parties. This necessary practice acknowledges that a lost, injured individual may take days to reach a trail that has already been searched.

The Estimated Route: Searchers interpreted “Tour Ridge” to mean David may have taken an eastward route to Vultee Arch, then gone off-trail, heading around to the northwest, possibly attempting to circle back toward Bears Canyon and his vehicle. This meant he likely ventured deep into the steep canyon and ridge lands—a difficult, off-trail undertaking, even for an experienced hiker.

Dog Teams Fail: When dog teams were brought in on Sunday, May 24th, they searched the core areas but reported no positive hits, failing to pick up David’s scent in the region.

The First (and Only) Clue

On Monday, May 25th, the search yielded its first solid, yet frustrating, clue. A backcountry team discovered a set of tracks leading up into Narrow Canyon, a side canyon branching off from Bears Canyon.

The Tracks: The tracks displayed a Vibram sole pattern, and critically, no return tracks were seen.

The Pursuit: Searchers followed the tracks up past a dry waterfall until the dog and handler had to return due to fatigue.

The Dead End: The ground personnel who continued the next day found the trackway until it simply became inconceivable and disappeared. In the upper reaches of the canyon, a large sand trap was located—a spot where passage should have left obvious tracks—but none were present.

After days of scouring every reasonable location, including the drainages leading up and out of Oak Creek Canyon with the assistance of the local Sedona Westerners hiking club, the search coordinators made the difficult decision to suspend all search operations on Tuesday, May 26th.

The possibility remained that David, utilizing his climbing and hiking skills, had reached an extremely remote, inaccessible location that no one could reasonably be expected to find.

The Follow-Up Investigation and Solved Mysteries

The investigation pivoted to David’s personal life and interests, hoping to glean a behavioral clue that would point to his true destination.

The Bookstore Tip (May 31st): A bookstore employee named Gwen from “The Worm” contacted the Sheriff’s Office. She recalled that David had purchased topographical maps for the Wilson Mountain and Sycamore Canyon area on May 11th or 18th. David had told her he intended to do a hike from Sedona to Sycamore Canyon, which Gwen cautioned would take more than three days. They settled on a shorter possible route around Wilson Mountain and down to Highway 89A, with a return to Sedona. David also mentioned that if his trip ran late, he might hitchhike back to his vehicle. This reinforced the idea that his intended exit was to the east, toward the well-traveled highway.

The Wally Mala Mystery Solved (June 23rd): A co-worker, Hayden Davis, explained that the phrase “Wally Mala” was a private joke between the two of them, referring to a type of plant used as Native American toilet paper. Hayden strongly assured the deputy that the words held no spiritual or hidden meaning. Hayden also noted David’s deep interest in Native American religion and his contentment with his job, dispelling any notion of him willingly leaving the area.

The Loner Hiker: A friend confirmed that David would often hike off-trail without telling anyone where he was going. He was described as a loner who had previously gotten lost while hiking and had to follow a creek back to safety—all habits that made him incredibly difficult to find now.

The investigation confirmed David had every intention of staying in Arizona, was happy in his job, and was in a stable romantic relationship. His bank accounts remained untouched, and his mother had them flagged for any activity.

The Cold Case Resurfaces

For years, David’s case went cold, marked only by fringe sightings (a man on a mountain bike carrying a duffel bag with the name “Barkley” on it) and a few tips related to paranormal or paramilitary theories, all without evidence. The possibility of him marking his gear with his middle name, “Barkley,” was investigated, but his mother said he typically used “David Miller,” “DM,” or “David.”

The case reawakened in February 2022, seven years after David’s mother provided a DNA sample to the police.

The Camp Site Discovery (Feb 2022): A Sedona firefighter and his wife discovered an old campsite in Secret Canyon. The site contained old clothing and materials, including a pair of Gore-Tex pants, a North Face jacket (dated to the 1997-1998 season, coinciding with David’s disappearance), and a small zipper pouch containing a tube of Lamisil foot cream. David’s mother was informed and was especially hopeful, as her son used Lamisil cream.

The DNA Challenge: Despite the coincidence, multiple ground and drone searches of the area found no human remains or conclusive link. The Arizona Department of Public Safety refused to DNA test the clothing because the case was not classified as a homicide. Barbara Miller, determined to find a conclusion, arranged for a private lab to swab the items for DNA analysis.

The ultimate challenge remains: David Miller, an experienced ranger with a penchant for off-trail, solitary exploration, vanished into a rugged, geologically complex wilderness. He left behind a specific, yet ultimately too-broad, itinerary, and disappeared from a contained area where his body could be easily concealed by the steep ridges, rock slides, and thick foliage.