Sanzo is of personal thought to believe that the location would be within the Altar of Volkkras mazes. Working as one of the Shamans he knows that it is the Shamans absolute favorite place to stow away because it is so easy to get lost within them if you don't know them well enough. The note: "de in plain s" looks to be "Hide in plain sight", which would accompany the thought that the authorities gave with how they don't like to wander. The torches were also probably taken to both light the way through the mazes which are usually fairly dark, as well as make it harder for those in the mazes to look around.

The hypothermia could be a red herring or caused by something the Shamans are working on, they have been experimenting quite a bit after all.