Dary Matera, a Scottsdale author who tried to market a book on the escapade, said Horning's first meal after the escape was an owl that he killed in a cave and ate raw. Survivalists say the key elements are water and warmth. Fisher bought purification gear the day before he vanished, and there is plenty of water in the rim country. If dressed properly, he could sleep during the day and hunker down or exercise to stay warm at night. Lundin said there are few edible plants in the high country this time of year, and a murder suspect is not likely to risk exposing himself by hunting game.
Outdoor experts point out that Arizona's wilderness is pocked with civilization.
As for shelter, limestone caves snake through the rim country like holes in Swiss cheese. Ray Keeler of Glendale, vice president of the National Speliogical Society, said there are dozens of subterranean systems, many of which he has mapped. Keeler said he does not believe Fisher is an experienced spelunker, so he most likely would stay near a tunnel entrance. All of the area caves are extremely damp, with about 98 percent humidity and temperatures of around 50 degrees. Many provide refuge for bats and contain flowing water or sumps.