On July 5, 2018, Brian Perri was reported missing on Mount Meeker, one of the most dangerous mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. Search Beyond Lies, Book One in the Search & Recovery International Series is a work of fiction, whose inspiration lies in a rare type of friendship J.C. Fischer and Kimo McEwen had with Brian where they put their lives on hold and jeopardized their safety and well-being to search for him. Was the manner in which Brian was discovered missing fact or fiction?
J.C. and Kimo
discovered missing
The manner in which the character, Brett, was discovered missing in Chapter 1 is fact. From his failure to show up at the defense, to the condition of the apartment during the welfare check is fact, including the participation of the character James. The description of the police officer is fiction.
The Last Known Location
A selfie revealed the last known location was the summit. That is where the search began, and that is fact. The when, where, and to whom the selfie was sent, are fact as well as the reasons a missing person’s report was not filed at that time.
the car
The description of the car, where it was parked, and the events surrounding it are fact.
the park rangers
Fact: The work of the Alpine Team. A number of these dedicated Park Rangers continued their search on their days off as volunteers – they would not give up.
Fact: The existence of the Community Liaison and the Park Rangers’ reasons for deterring volunteers.
What was written about the search and rescue dogs are true. You’ll have to read the book to see their role.
Bull Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park
Since I don’t appreciate spoilers, you’ll notice that I intentionally did not include any. I want you to enjoy the book while appreciating what is fact and what is fiction.
In the next Fact or Fiction article for Search Beyond Lies, we’ll take a look at the clues revealed during the search. I promise not to include spoilers.
In our last Search Beyond Lies Fact or Fiction article on the university, we discovered that the university within the book is fiction. Colorado State University’s Radiation Health Physics program is the real deal where Brian Perri and J.C. Fischer obtained their graduate degrees. But what about the top-secret research project at the heart of the novel? Did Brian in fact work on such a project?
Colorado State University – Science Quad
Search Beyond Lies’ Top-Secret Research Project
The top-secret research project with world-wide implications at the heart of Search Beyond Lies is pure fiction—a figment of my active imagination. Although Brian and other graduate students had the opportunity to work with several world-renowned Health Physicists, none of the projects rose to the level described in the book.
The Real Research Project
Both Brian and J.C. had very interesting research projects, but neither were top-secret.
Fukushima
Brian took advantage of one of the many graduate student opportunities mentioned in the last article regarding the university. Through CSU’s partnership with Fukushima University in Japan, “Brian used Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) modeling to determine lens dose conversion factors for mice living in the Fukushima exclusion zone in various exposure scenarios.” (In Memoriam Brian Joseph Perri, by Amber Harshman, Health Physics Journal, May 2019). It is my understanding that the data from Brian’s research could be used to counteract the harmful effects of the sun’s radiation.
Safety
J.C.’s project was part of a Department of Defense grant. The mathematical formula described within the book is fact. “The purpose of his research was to further improve and advance detection capabilities of shielded and unshielded radioactive sources in elevated background environments using a string or series of measurements.” In other words, his research was used improve the detection of radioactive materials/nuclear “bombs” that are “shielded” in lead or other such shielding in defense of our country.
PhD or Masters?
Both Brian’s and J.C.’s research projects were for a master’s thesis, not a PhD. So, the existence of J.C.’s defense was fact, the level was fiction. The purpose of elevating the projects to that of a PhD was two-fold:
A top-secret project with worldwide implications would only be done at the PhD level; and
The hero, James, would not be old enough for Charlie if he went straight through from undergraduate unless it was for a PhD.
My son-in-law, Rob, is finishing up his PhD in Intergraded Biomedical Sciences in the discipline of Neuroscience. I received the low-down from him and witnessed a PhD defense at CSU for the Radiation Health Physics Program. The protocol as outlined in the book is fact.
Brian Perri’s Graduation with Dr. Thomas Johnson, Dr. Amber Harshman, & J.C. Fischer
Both J.C. and Brian earned their master’s degrees, however Brian’s was posthumously. At the time Brian made his last climb, he had the initial draft of his thesis completed. His professor finalized it and published it in his name posthumously.
What would you like me to reveal in the next Fact or Fiction article for Search Beyond Lies?
Now that we’ve looked at what I am doing, let’s examine what I’m not doing. Have those things, too, helped revitalize my writing? Maybe. So what am I spending less time doing?
Cleaning
I’m spending less time cleaning house. No, I haven’t let the house be condemned by the Board of Health, but I’m realizing more of what is important … and what’s not. Spending less time cleaning house has been great. Not only do I have more energy and time for life’s important moments, I also haven’t experienced any noticeable change in lifestyle. Post-pandemic, the house isn’t perfectly clean; that’s a given.
Cleaning House
But neither was it perfectly clean pre-pandemic. I was scrubbing, dusting, vacuuming, etc., all for a false sense of self-worth. Now, I work to keep the house comfortable and semi-decent. My happiness level shot up, as did my time to daydream about the next book or noodle around with ideas for trying a different genre.
Accumulating
I’m spending less time accumulating
more things. Spending less time in accumulation is just practical. Having a bunch of things means more dusting
those things, more re-arranging those things, more trying to find room for
those things. My time is much better
spent playing with grandchildren and writing.
worrying
I’m spending less time worrying over if I will sell more books. I will do my best in my writing, but I’m not going to obsess over it. Using less emotional energy to worry over if I’ll ever sell another book gives me the courage to take risks in my writing. Could I add a more in-depth scene to my latest book and would the editor like it? We’ll see.
Selling More Books
I’m spending less time worrying over what others think of me. Spending less time on this has been infinitely freeing. (How else could I carry off having blue hair for over two years?) In my seventies now, I realized I had spent far too much of my life anguishing over what others thought of me. No more.
FINALLY
I have no presumption that what
works for me will work for you. These
are just a few of the things I am doing differently now. Whether they make me a better writer is yet
to be seen, but they are making me a better person.
What works for you?
Jane M. Choate dreamed of writing since she was a little girl and entertained her friends with made-up stories about them. She postponed her dream of writing to get married and have children. On one particularly hard day when it seemed all she had done was to clean toilets (she had two small boys at the time), she wrote a short story and sent it in to a magazine on a whim. To her surprise and delight, it was accepted.
Jane now writes for Love Inspired Suspense where she combines romance, danger, and faith. Jane is the mother of five children, grandmother to ten grandchildren, and great-grandmother to one adorable baby girl. When she is not writing, she can be found trying to keep up with her grandchildren. (The operative word there is “trying.”)
You won’t want to miss Jane’s latest release–Rocky
Mountain Vendetta–A must read that spent 2 weeks on the Publishers Weekly
Bestseller List!
In Search Beyond Lies, a key place is the university. Both James and Brett were graduate students at the university and obtained PhDs in Health Physics. Is the university a real place?
The University
Although the university within the book is fictitious, both Brian Perri and J.C. were graduate students in Colorado State University’s Health Physics program. Because my intention was to create a fictitious university, I intentionally did no research on CSU at the time of my writing Search Beyond Lies.
The Real University – Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. Its Health Physics program was created over 40 years ago and was fully accredited by ABET in July 2007 and continually reaccredited in subsequent years. CSU is recognized as one of the premier health physics/radiation protection graduate training programs in the country.
ABET and the Accreditation Process
In case you are wondering what ABET is, it’s a nonprofit, ISO 9001 certified organization that accredits university and college programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.
Every year the entire
Health Physics program is critically examined by an advisory board, and in
depth every 6 years by the ABET external review team.
CSU’s External Advisory
Board contains representatives from nuclear power facilities, consulting
experts, mining and milling operations, and national laboratories.
What is Health Physics?
I reached out to one of the key faculty members who provided me with the best definition of health physics: “Protection of workers, the public and the environment from harmful effects of radiation while facilitating beneficial use of radiation.”
You might wonder why someone who works in the field of radiation is called a Health Physicist. Why not a Radiation Physicist? I touched a little bit about this within the book.
The professor provided me with further insight. “The health physics profession was named in an effort to obfuscate what we do. It was named in WWII to try to deflect the actual work that was done.”
Unique Offerings in CSU’s Health Physics Program
Unlike other programs, CSU’s health physics program offers classes in Radioecology and Radiochemistry. Both of these areas are important for evaluating reactor chemistry and making human health and environmental impact assessments for all segments of the nuclear fuel cycle. Additionally, these areas are very important in evaluating and periodically revising the environmental regulations for nuclear power and other nuclear activities, especially nuclear accidents.
There are many opportunities for their graduate
students, including the ability to work in radiation research through CSU’s
partnership with Japan’s Fukushima University.
Job Opportunities
Where do graduates of CSU’s Health Physics program work? Since there are very few graduate programs in this highly specialized field, opportunities abound. Graduates are working in nuclear power plants, at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Monaco and Austria, most of the national laboratories, and hospitals. Many alumni hold leadership positions in the Health Physics Society, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and nuclear power plants.
Nuclear Power Plant
It’s an incredible program with global opportunities. In the next article we’ll delve into the truth behind the top-secret research project with world-wide implications at the heart of Search Beyond Lies. Is it fact or fiction?
One of the key characters in Search Beyond Lies is a schnauzer mutt name Brady. Is Brady a real dog? Is his story fact or fiction?
brady the dog
Brady is a real dog. He is our incredibly smart, well-trained family dog.
He rings a bell when he has to go out.
With Rob and J.C. he does all kinds of tricks, walks off leash at their heels, will not bark at their command or even chase rabbits.
Notice how the above did not include me. He is smart enough to know I’m a pushover and he can get away with … .
Although he is not a trained service dog or search and rescue working dog, he could easily be trained for both.
Brady knew his mask and neck ring protected him from the ash during the worst of the Colorado fires.
The Story behind how brady was “found”
Search Beyond Lies tells a story of how Brady was
found and slept in a suitcase as a result. Is this story fact or fiction?
The story of how Brady was found is a true story with a major fictional twist. In the book, the animal that was found by Brett was Brady. The real story is that a kitten was found in the exact same manner by J.C. So, the story itself was true but fictionalized with different characters.
Brady belonged to my daughter, Victoria, and her husband Rob who is responsible for training him. After graduating from medical school, Rob had to move Victoria from Washington, D.C. to San Antonio, TX for her neurosurgery residence program (one year later he was able to transfer to the University of Texas for his doctoral program).
Brady looking back in Rocky Mountain National Park
We were to only watch Brady for 2 weeks for the move, however, since both of their programs were extremely time intensive where Brady would be alone most of the day, we offered to keep him for the duration of their programs. Needless to say, we got attached to him and they gifted Brady to us (one of the best gifts we have ever received).
the suitcase
Brady does in fact sleep in a suitcase but for a different reason. When Brady first came to live with us my husband, Joe, did a lot of travel for his work. Brady wasn’t happy when he left and clearly thought Joe would take him along if he slept in his carry-on suitcase. My husband’s carry-on became Brady’s bed, and we bought another one for Joe.
Brady–The Name
The story behind Brady’s name is true. Brady was very tiny when Victoria and Rob first got him. My daughter wanted a small dog and Rob wanted a big dog, but they were living in an apartment and small it was. Their compromise was a small dog with a big name — Rob named him after his favorite quarterback, Tom Brady.
I’ve been asked if Brady will appear in future books. I’m working on Book 2, Pattern of Deception, which takes place in Alaska. He just may… .
The setting for Search Beyond Lies moves into Idaho as the adventure continues. Although Idaho National Lab is not the setting for the story, it has a key role in the backstory. Idaho National Lab is a real place, formally known as Idaho National Laboratory (“INL”).
A Little History
The Idaho National Laboratory was previously known as the National Reactor Testing Station.
It was intentionally located in a remote area of the Idaho desert which would limit public exposure to any radiation in the event of an incident with the nuclear power reactor. The historic incident was SL-1 in Idaho in 1961, one of 4 historic incidents.
According to INL, Just the Facts SL-1 , “The Stationary Low-Power Plant Number 1 (SL-1) was a 3-megawatt experimental reactor designed for the U.S. Army to use in remote locations.”
The SL-1 accident resulted in 3 deaths and is “considered the only fatal nuclear reactor accident in the United States…caused by the process of making nuclear energy.” This does not take into consideration “industrial fatalities at other generating stations.”
Today
The U.S. Department of Energy complex has 17 national labs, one of which is INL. There are more that 5,700 employees including researchers and various support staff. Innovation is their focus in nuclear research, security solutions, and renewable energy systems. They are always looking to attract scientists and others in an effort to “redefine what’s possible.”
The Grand Tetons Across the Sagebrush Flats
Search Beyond Lies
What is revealed in Search Beyond Lies regarding INL and some of their recruitment efforts are fact. However, the story is fiction.
With respect to targeted radioactive waste from the Rocky Mountain Flats, from 1954 to 1970 it was packaged in boxes and storage drums and then sent to the high-desert, sagebrush prairie land of eastern Idaho where it was buried in trenches and unlined pits. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, they completed the removal of this waste from the 97-acre landfill at its 890-square-mile site that includes INL. For more on these more fairly recent developments, there’s a good article in the Denver Post.
One of the important characters is a schnauzer mutt name Brady. Is Brady a real dog? Is he fact or fiction?
Mount Beacon is the primary setting for the first part of Search Beyond Lies. Is it a real place? Although I have been known to use the real name of a real place in my writing, it’s not my norm.
Mount Beacon – The Name
My first book was a nonfiction book titled, A Beacon for Life. The name “beacon” was chosen for sentimental reasons. A Beacon for Life
is an inspirational written to help people through difficult times. For
me, it was cathartic since it helped me work through my difficult
journey while pregnant with my second child, Mary Kathryn, who was
trisomy 13.
The Place—Is It Real?
The place is real. It is Mount Meeker, one of the most dangerous mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. The information presented in the book regarding the mountain is based on my research of Mount Meeker and discussions with a number of the volunteers.
Mount Meeker
The selfie taken on the summit of Mount Meeker is fact. When Brian Perri summited Mount Meeker on June 30, 2018, he took a selfie and sent it to a friend.
Nick Sangetta hiked Mount Meeker as a dedication to Brian, J.C., and the other volunteers. You can find his dedication on YouTube and get a first-hand feel for the danger presented on this treacherous mountain.
Mount Meeker Left / Longs Peak Right
My brother has hiked mountains all over the world and I asked him to view Nick’s video so he could provide me with insight into Charlie’s search for Brett and check my story for accuracy. I want my research and story to be correct always. He told me that Mount Meeker is very dangerous to hike, especially alone.
The descriptions presented, including the lone columbine in an area that seemed hopeless to support life are real. This photo was taken by Kimo during their search.
I had provided an advanced reader copy to a few of the volunteers who felt they were reliving their journey.
Search Beyond Lies, Book One in the Search & Recovery Series
Search Beyond Lies is a work of fiction, but it was inspired by true events. What follows is the tribute I wrote at the time to Brian Joseph Perri, J.C. Fischer, and Kimo McEwen.
An Inspiring Rare Friendship
An inspiring rare friendship is contagious. If you have two people you can call “friend” during your lifetime, you have a rare gift. Most of us have what amounts to as acquaintances. Yes, we may have a good time and periodically help each other professionally or personally, but what if your friend went missing? To what extent would you put your world on hold and jeopardize your safety, well-being, and your own life to find that friend? What I witnessed were two such friends when they discovered their friend went missing…
The Defense
My son, J.C., defended his master’s
thesis on Thursday, July 5, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Brian, a friend of his from the
program, promised to attend, but he was absent. When it became clear that no
one had seen him since the Friday before, a Missing Person’s Report was filed.
It was the Fourth of July week and not unusual for someone to be gone … until
he was expected.
Mount Meeker
Brian Joseph Perri, a former special operations-trained paratrooper, usually went hiking alone. A graduate of the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training program, he was trained, tortured, and dropped without any provision into unknown territory and passed with flying colors. He was an avid hiker and fell in love with the Colorado Rockies, successfully summiting several fourteeners. Mount Meeker, one of the most dangerous mountains in the Rocky Mountain National Park, beaconed him. At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2018, he reached the summit and sent a selfie to someone who asked to be picked up from the airport. M
Missing
Brian’s car was found at the trailhead of Mount Meeker that night, and on Friday, the search began. Kimo, Brian’s former army roommate from special operations flew in from Maine to help J.C. find their friend. Although neither were mountain hikers (this was Kimo’s first visit to the Colorado Rockies), they were bound and determined to find their friend and bring him down from the mountain. P
Park Rangers
The park rangers did their part and
sent up the Alpine Team to repel down the cliff side of Mount Meeker along with
others who searched the terrain. Twenty-two square miles of rough terrain is no
easy task. Helicopters and canine units were used. At this time, there were
fires in Colorado, and on Sunday, the helicopters had to be diverted from their
search. Not to be deterred, the rangers got permission to use a drone—the first
ever used in the Rocky Mountain National Park.V
volunteers
J.C. and Kimo never gave up, searching
every day possible for their friend. Priscilla Jane Kurtz Williams, unable to
hike because of ankle surgery, set up a social media presence and a GoFundMe
account to help with the search. Jordie, Kimo’s wife, gave him the blessing to
go to Colorado to aid the search while she held down the fort with their 3
children. She also helped with research, social media, and outreach. Brian was
very close to his sister, Becky, who handled what she could from New York and
was the family contact.
J.C. & Kimo searching for Brian Perri — Mount Meeker
All of their efforts brought in many
volunteers; some of the rangers even continued their search on their day off
after searching for 5 straight days. One week turned into two. Still, there was
hope—Brian was a survivor.
Fox 31 News followed J.C. and Kimo up (and the camera man took a vacation day to return the next day without his camera to help search). They quoted J.C. in the title of their story: “I will not let this mountain be my friend’s grave.” Friends continue search for the missing hiker.
found
Four weeks to the day that Brian
summited Mount Meeker, the park rangers responded to a visitor’s GPS tracking device,
which denoted a sign of distress. J.C. and Kimo saw them going up the mountain as
they were coming down one last time—after hiking more than 200 miles within 3
weeks, their bodies were too broken to continue. Despite the approaching storm,
the park rangers hiked up, and in their search for the injured hiker, they
found Brian. Park officials believe he fell 25 to 40 feet and died instantly.
It was the cliff side with very dangerous rocks and crevices.
“Why did so many who never knew Brian come?” my son asked a number of these volunteers, because he was so overwhelmed with the support of strangers. Over and over he was told that they were inspired by this rare friendship. It was J.C. and Kimo’s care, concern, persistence, loyalty, and dedication to finding their friend that exemplified true friendship—and that is a contagious type of friendship. So few people experience such a friendship; Brian was blessed with two such friends. Brian impacted the lives of many people both directly and indirectly, and his legacy and gifts will live on through these people—paying it forward throughout each life. Rest in peace, Brian—you were loved.
