6 More Causes of Death Ruled Out for Gerrish Chung Family | PEOPLE.com

https://people.com/human-interest/6-more-causes-of-death-ruled-out-for-california-family-who-mysteriously-died-on-hiking-trail/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab&utm_content=algorithm

6 More Causes of Death Ruled Out for Calif. Family Who Mysteriously Died on Hiking Trail

Gabrielle Chung

September 30, 2021 07:57 PM

Authorities in California have ruled out six more potential causes of death for the family of three who were mysteriously found dead with their dog along a hiking trail in the Sierra National Forest last month.

According to the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, investigators do not believe John Gerrish, Ellen Chung and their 1-year-old daughter Miju died by suicide or lightning strike, nor from exposure to carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, cyanide and illegal drugs and alcohol.

A press release issued on Thursday said that "toxicology reports have been completed," though authorities are still waiting on "a few key results"

Jon Gerrish, Muji, Ellen Chung

| Credit: Rosanna Heaslett

RELATED: Relatives of Calif. Family Who Mysteriously Died on Hiking Trail Don't Believe They Were Murdered

"We respect and understand the need for information and details regarding this case. Our current priorities remain supporting and informing the Gerrish / Chung family during this tragic time," Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a statement.

"As we navigate through this investigation with the family, we will later share our findings with the public," Briese added.

The family of three, along with their dog Oski, were found dead in the Devil's Gulch section of the Hites Cove Trail on Aug. 17.

Gerrish was discovered in a seated position with Miju and Oski near him, while Chung was found a ways away from them up a hill, according to The Washington Post. The family and their dog reportedly did not have any physical wounds or signs of trauma on their bodies.

Ellen Chung and John Gerrish

| Credit: Ellen chung/ instagram

Previously, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office ruled out exposure to chemicals and use of a gun or another deadly weapon as potential causes of death.

"We know the family and friends of John and Ellen are desperate for answers, our team of detectives are working round the clock," Briese said in a statement sent to PEOPLE that announced the findings.

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"Cases like this require us to be methodical and thorough while also reaching out to every resource we can find to help us bring those answers to them as quickly as we can," Briese continued.

According to the sheriff's office, investigators have sent the family's cell phones to the FBI for data extraction and have requested search warrants for possible social media access.

During the pandemic, Gerrish and Chung had moved about 160 miles from their home in San Francisco to Central California, family friend Steve Jeffe told The Fresno Bee.

"We're all just devastated," he said. "They were really beloved by the people. A super generous, sweet and loving couple that was devoted to their daughter."

A family friend said Gerrish was originally from England, while Chung worked as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant with their daughter, the Merced Sun-Star previously reported.

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

Experienced outdoorsman dead, another still missing in Yellowstone National Park | The Madisonian

http://www.madisoniannews.com/news/experienced-outdoorsman-dead-another-still-missing-yellowstone-national-park

Experienced outdoorsman dead, another still missing in Yellowstone National Park

Two NPS retirees run into trouble on backcountry canoe trip

Wed, 09/29/2021 - 11:13am

reporter@lonepeaklookout.com

Despite backgrounds in the National Park Service (NPS), two men in their 60s and 70s were reported overdue from a four-night backcountry canoe trip at Shoshone Lake in Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 19. Mark O'Neill, 67, from Chimacum, Wash., and Kim Crumbo, 74, from Ogden, Utah, were reported overdue by a family member via phone. The two are half-brothers.

Mobilizing interagency search and rescue (SAR) personnel, the National Park Service sent in ground and air teams to check on the missing canoeists on Sept. 19. Shortly after, the crew discovered an unoccupied campsite with a pitched tent on the southern edge of the lake. The body of O'Neill was discovered the next morning along the eastern edge of Shoshone Lake along with a canoe, paddle, and PFD on Sept. 20. Kim Crumbo was not located.

Shoshone Lake lies in the southwest region of Yellowstone National Park. It is the second largest body of water in the park and sits at 7,795 ft. Backcountry enthusiasts must either hike in 2.9 miles from Delacy Creek Trailhead or paddle Lewis Lake and then four miles up the Lewis River to get to Shoshone Lake. The lake is not accessible by road. In a crowded place like Yellowstone National Park, this large backcountry destination attracts folks looking for solitude and an authentic wilderness experience.

According to Yellowstone's website, "The leading cause of death in Yellowstone's backcountry is cold-water (hypothermic) drowning. Over 100 people have lost their lives in the park's cold lakes and streams. Water temperatures on Yellowstone, Lewis, and Shoshone lakes are in the 40s (Fahrenheit) in June, and the 60s by late summer. Survival time is minimal in frigid waters. In addition, sudden strong winds can produce 3–5-foot waves."

The National Park Service also warns paddlers to be wary of Shoshone Lake's moods in the Yellowstone backcountry trip planner. A person can only survive in the cold water for an estimated 20 to 30 minutes before becoming severely hypothermic.

"High winds are an almost daily occurrence on the lake. Arrange your itineraries to avoid open-water crossings in the afternoon. Travel in early morning or late afternoon for easier and safer conditions. We suggest you select a site on the southern shore of the lake for the first night of any trip.

Travel close to shore and within sight of other party members. Limit wind and wave exposure by using protected bays. If a crossing is necessary, evaluate conditions wisely and cross only at "the Narrows" (see map). Place at least one experienced paddler in each boat and consider practicing capsize recovery techniques with all party members prior to your trip." However, both O'Neill and Crumbo were experienced in backcountry travel on water and land. Crumbo served in the Navy SEALs, worked as a park ranger in Grand Canyon National Park, and enjoyed life as a professional river guide for close to a decade. O'Neill lived on the rugged Olympic Peninsula of the Washington coast, about 50 miles northwest of Seattle, which is known as one of the wettest places in the Lower 48.

As of Friday, Sept. 24, Yellowstone NPS announced they were transitioning from a rescue operation to a recovery at Shoshone Lake after five days of intense searching for Crumbo. "Crews swept all the trails in the area, searched the entire Shoshone Lake shoreline by boat and gridded the open water by helicopter," wrote NPS in a press release.

The NPS Submerged Resources Center (SRC) will join the incident over the weekend from the Denver, Colo. area and begin using sonar to sweep the bottom of the lake. Their team is made up of eight members. If conditions allow, according to the National Park Service, it is possible the SRC could use divers to assist in a recovery. Shoshone Lake however is 200 ft deep in some places and the water temperatures regularly sit between 40-50°F. With low water this year and the inability to access the lake by road, the SRC's equipment and boat had to be flown in. As of Friday, Sept. 24, Crumbo had still not been found.

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Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

Agents on horseback find missing hiker after 16-hour multi-agency search at Big Bend National Park | KTSM 9 News

https://www.ktsm.com/news/border-report/agents-on-horseback-find-missing-hiker-after-16-hour-multi-agency-search-at-big-bend-national-park/

Agents on horseback find missing hiker after 16-hour multi-agency search at Big Bend National Park

Fernie OrtizSep 29, 2021 / 01:17 PM MDT

Border Report

Posted: / Updated: Sep 29, 2021 / 01:17 PM MDT

An RV camp sits within the Chisos Basin of the Big Bend National Park on October 16, 2016 in West Texas. Big Bend is a rugged, vast and remote region of Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — The U.S. Border Patrol Horse Patrol Unit helped find an experienced hiker who became lost at Big Ben National Park on Monday.

The female hiker did not return from her trek as expected Monday afternoon. Because of her level of experience, officials did not feel it was necessary to launch an overnight search, fearing it would put rescuers at risk, according to a news release from the Border Patrol's Big Bend Sector.

However, the Border Patrol used the overnight hours to mobilize its agents, the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) team, horse and K-9 Units, as well the National Park Service, Department of Public Safety, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, and mobile technology.

With favorable weather conditions in the park Tuesday morning, crews deployed to the last known location of the hiker in the Chisos Basin.

After more than 16 hours of searching, agents on horseback located the footprints of the lost hiker and tracked them to a remote location in Juniper Canyon. An agent heard faint screaming and found the hiker responsive.

BORSTAR paramedics immediately tended to the hiker before a CBP Air and Marine Operations UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flew her to Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine, Texas.

"Horse Patrol is one of the most effective tools we have in performing our law enforcement, and in this case, rescue missions, because of their inherent ability to move across rugged terrain in an expedited manner," CBP spokesman Greg L. Davis told Border Report.

Because of that rugged terrain, the Big Bend Sector and the National Park Service urge visitors to remain vigilant, keep in contact with the other members of their party, and prepare for environmental changes when hiking.

"The coordinated actions of all agencies involved led to the successful rescue of a lost hiker," Big Bend Sector Chief Sean L. McGoffin said in a news release. "This is a great example where multiple local agencies pooled their resources to work together to save a life. We appreciate the close working partnerships in the Big Bend region."

The Border Patrol has used horses since its founding in 1924.

The Horse Patrol Unit was thrust into the national spotlight earlier this month when images of agents on horseback blocking Haitian migrants from crossing the Rio Grande into Del Rio, Texas, surfaced.

The photos incorrectly suggested that agents were using their reins to whip at mostly Black migrants. However, the Department of Homeland Security suspended the use of horse units at the bridge.

In the Big Bend Sector, horses remain a crucial resource in patrolling the border and saving lives.

"Horses can go where vehicles cannot and where it would take personnel on foot hours to traverse the same terrain which is done in minutes by a horse," said Davis, adding that there are no specific changes to the use of Horse Patrol within Big Bend Sector.

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Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

Two Hikers Still Missing After Extensive Searches In Yosemite | myMotherLode.com

https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/1999245/two-hikers-still-missing-after-extensive-searches-in-yosemite.html

Two Hikers Still Missing After Extensive Searches In Yosemite

Published Sep 28, 2021 04:44 pm

Map with green lines representing individual searchers, teams, and helicopters

Yosemite, CA – The two hikers went missing in Yosemite National Park at the end of the summer and exhaustive searches have turned up no clues on their whereabouts.

Park officials are turning to park visitors for help to locate the two men. Park officials detail that 69-year-old Richard Judd and 31-year-old Joel Thomazin are still missing in different areas of the park. They also include the maps in the image box showing how extensive the search and rescue crews have combed the park, as can be seen by the green lines representing individual searchers, teams, and helicopters.

Judd was the first to go missing and was last seen on July 25^th. He was on a day hike from his camp, near Lower Merced Pass Lake, to Red Peak Pass, as earlier reported here. Judd is 5 ft 11 in and 150 pounds with brown eyes, short graying hair, and a beard. Park officials put out the photo included in the image box, noting what he was wearing when he went hiking. They also detailed that he was reportedly using white trekking poles and had a navy-blue day pack.

As earlier reported here, Thomazin had planned a solo hike from Hetch Hetchy on September 6^th to fish in the Lake Eleanor area and return on September 9th. Park officials noted that he may have decided to stay out longer and extended his trip to Cherry Lake or to the north or east as far as the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. Park officials are asking all wilderness travelers north of Tioga Road and between Cherry Lake and Tuolumne Meadows to report possible sightings of him or any unattended/possibly abandoned equipment. They added that he was likely carrying the kayak packed in a large red pouch attached to the exterior of his backpack.

His family provided this list of equipment he may have had with him:

• Floppy boonie hat
• Dark blue/green hammock
• Large yellowish tan Kelty pack
• US Army steel cup dated 1918
• Camelback-type red/black daypack
• Black and yellow collapsible sink
• Bright red inflatable kayak (in photo)
• Small collapsible stove in a black bag
• Kayak paddle
• Petzl Zipka headlamp
• Yellow bear can
• Garmin Tactix Delta solar GPS watch
• Bright green mummy sleeping bag
• Fishing pole, fishing gear

Park officials ask If any of these items are found to please leave them in place, note the location using coordinate is possible, take photos, and email the information to yosemite.search.rescue@gmail.com or call them at 209/238-7046 or call or TEXT the NPS Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888/653-0009.

Written by Tracey Petersen.

Report breaking news, traffic or weather to our News Hotline (209) 532-6397. Send Mother Lode News Story photos to news@clarkebroadcasting.com. Sign up for our FREE myMotherLode.com Daily Newsletters by clicking here.

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Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

Man matching description of missing hiker Robert Lowery found dead | This Just In | jhnewsandguide.com

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/content/tncms/live/

Man matching description of missing hiker Robert Lowery found dead

Family thanks rescuers for 'care and concern' after teams comb slopes looking for Houston man.

Robert Lowery

COURTESY PHOTO

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

Ava teen dies from fall on Buffalo National RiverOzark Radio News | Ozark Radio News

https://www.ozarkradionews.com/local-news/ava-teen-dies-from-fall-on-buffalo-national-river

Ava teen dies from fall on Buffalo National River

September 28, 2021

This photo shows the steep cliffs of the Buffalo River in Arkansas

Ponca, Ark. – An Ava teen died from a fall while on a church hike in Arkansas. The accident occurred at roughly 1 p.m. September 25, 2021 near Lost Valley Trail at Buffalo National River. The National Park Service released information about the accident on Monday.

Newton County Sheriff's Office dispatch received a call of a fallen hiker near Eden Falls Cave on the Lost Valley Trail. The 16-year-old male was hiking with a large group from his church when he left the established trail near Eden Falls Cave and scrambled up the steep hillside near the cave entrance. After losing his footing, the teenager fell approximately 20 feet sustaining traumatic head and spinal injuries.

Witnesses conducted CPR and rendered first aid until emergency personnel arrived on scene. The teen was unresponsive when National Park Service rangers and paramedics arrived. Lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful.

"The park staff and I extend our deepest condolences to this young man's family and friends," said park superintendent Mark Foust. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved and to the communities effected by such a tragedy. We are thankful for those who assisted during the incident, including the first responders, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center ambulance staff, Newton County Sheriff's Office, Ponca Volunteer Fire Department, Harrison Fire Department, Mennonite Disaster Service, and the BUFFSAR volunteers."

The terrain in Buffalo National River can be rugged and steep. Off-trail travel is often dangerous, and visitors are asked to stay on established trails to avoid injury. 

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

Hiker Found Dead in Park Was Local Resident - Outlook Newspapers

http://outlooknewspapers.com/blog/2021/09/28/hiker-found-dead-in-park-was-local-resident/

Hiker Found Dead in Park Was Local Resident

September 28, 2021 by Christian Leonard

Police have identified a woman found dead earlier this month near a Stough Canyon Park hiking trail as Nancy Proffitt, a Burbank resident.
Proffitt was reported missing on Sept. 8, the Burbank Police Department said, and her body was found the following day. Sgt. Emil Brimway, a police spokesman, said the department believes the hiker's death was due to an accident or medical emergency, though detectives are waiting for a report from the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
Her family described the 65-year-old as a "wonderful mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend."
"She was always a laugh or shoulder to cry on to anyone who needed it and made the most of every day she had," her husband, Bill, and daughter, Carly, said in a statement. "She lived big and lit up every room she was in."
Nancy and Bill Proffitt successfully lobbied the City Council in 2015 to name a hiking trail in Stough Canyon Park in memory of their son, Shane, a 17-year-old who his family said died from a reaction to his medication, the Leader reported at the time.
Nancy Proffitt was not found on the trail named after her son, Brimway said in an email.
Annie McGruddy, who was friends with Proffitt for more than 40 years, said she loved to hike and exercise and was a loyal Philadelphia Eagles fan. The pair met while working in Philadelphia for KYW-TV Channel 3. Proffitt had turned 65 on Sept. 5, only a few days before she was reported missing.
"She was the best kind of friend to have," McGruddy said. "She was always there for anybody who needed her. She was one of a kind."
Local resident Mina Ho Ferrante said Proffitt had an infectious laugh that could make others feel more at ease, no matter how stressful the situation. Ferrante often called her "Nancy Poppins" due to her willingness to watch other families' children for them.
"Anytime I needed her, she always flew over," Ferrante said.
Tina Lay, whose children Proffitt helped care for, said kids seemed to be drawn to her. Lay explained that Proffitt, whose son Shane had autism, helped teach Lay how to advocate for her own son, who also has autism. And even when school resumed this year while Lay was out of town, Proffitt was there to take her kids to their first day of class.
Proffitt is still on her children's emergency contact list at school, Lay added — she can't bring herself to remove her name.
"She taught our kids a lot. She taught us moms a lot," Lay said.
Proffitt's family encourages those who wish to honor her memory to donate to local nonprofit BCR: A Place to Grow and Descanso Gardens.
"She is deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved her, but we are comforted that she is reunited with her beautiful son Shane in heaven," Bill and Carly Proffitt said. "We hope that everyone can take a little Nancy magic with them to make the world a kinder place."

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

Kingman family of three reported missing after camping trip | Arizona News | azfamily.com

This one is close to home. 
https://www.azfamily.com/news/kingman-family-of-three-reported-missing/article_e62ad2cc-2195-11ec-b990-e380e16afc67.amp.html

Kingman family of three reported missing after camping trip

Arizona's Family Digital News Staff

Posted 4 hrs ago

Erika Irene Allison, 36, and Robert Martinez, 30, left with their teenage son Psymon J. Kelly and two dogs on Sept. 11 for a family camping trip and did not return home. (Source: Arizona's Family 3TV/CBS 5)▲

KINGMAN, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- Kingman police are asking the public's help in locating a missing family that was last seen nearly three weeks ago.

The Kingman Police Department is trying to locate a married couple and their son, who were taking a camping trip at Katherine's Landing in Bullhead City.

36-year-old Erika Irene Allison and 30-year-old Robert Martinez left with their teenage son Psymon J. Kelly and two dogs on Sept. 11 for a family camping trip. Allison was driving a four-door grey 2005 Toyota Corolla and was last seen leaving a home near Karen Avenue and Van Buren Street in Kingman. They were also traveling with a king-sized mattress strapped to the roof of the car. 

Family members reported the three missing when they did not return after two weeks. National Park Service Rangers searched the area and did not find the car or family. Family also searched Katherine's Landing, Princess Cove, areas of Golden Valley and along the Colorado River for the family, but were unable to find them. Investigators found that the family left without a cell phone or Martinez's medication as well.

Allison is 5'3", 115 lbs, with brown hair and green eyes. She also recently shaved her head. Martinez is 5'5", 120-13- lbs, with brown hair and green eyes. Kelly is 6'0", 190 lbs, with blond hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what the three were last seen wearing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kingman Police Department at 928-753-2191. 

---

Copyright 2021 KPHO/KTVK (KPHO Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

Missing Hiker Rescued Nearly 2 Days After Becoming Lost In Boulder County – CBS Denver

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/09/27/missing-hiker-boulder-county-conifer-hill-road/

Missing Hiker Rescued Nearly 2 Days After Becoming Lost In Boulder County

Jennifer McRaeSeptember 27, 2021 at 2:22 pm

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)– A missing woman was found safe this weekend after she had not been seen for nearly two days. Boulder County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the area of Conifer Hill Road in the northwest part of Boulder County about 11:48 a.m. Sunday.

When they arrived, they conducted a search around the property but were unable to locate the missing 69-year-old female. They requested additional resources to assist with the search.

Unmanned aerial systems, canine teams and ground searchers were deployed to search the surrounding areas for the woman. After about 3 hours, one of the canine teams reported hearing a voice call for help. They found the woman a short time later.

The woman said she had been missing since Friday after taking a wrong turn while hiking off trail. She was not injured but fatigued and dehydrated. Searchers gave her food and water, after which her energy level improved. She was able to hike out of the wilderness with assistance from search crews.

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2021/09/search-continues-missing-canoeist-yellowstone-national-park

Search Continues For Missing Canoeist At Yellowstone National Park

Shoshone Lake is an attractive destination for paddlers, but it can be deadly/Kurt Repanshek file

A painstaking and heartbreaking recovery mission continued Saturday for a canoeist missing since last weekend in Yellowstone National Park's second largest lake.

Kim Crumbo, 74, of Ogden, Utah, and his half-brother, Mark O'Neill, 67, of Chimacum, Washington, were reported missing last Sunday by family members. The two retired National Park Service rangers had planned a four-night backcountry trip to Shoshone Lake, a 12.5-square-mile  lake with no road access.

Paddlers planning to visit Shoshone must first cross Lewis Lake, then follow the roughly 3-mile-long Lewis River Channel to Shoshone. Those who make the journey enjoy wilderness solitude and the Shoshone Geyser Basin on the lake's western shore.

But as picturesque as Shoshone Lake can be, it can be equally dangerous and unforgiving. Afternoon winds can whip the lake and generate 3-4-foot and larger waves that challenge the best of paddlers. Back in 1994 the lake claimed a backcountry ranger who capsized in his kayak. In 2002, a 39-year-old Idaho man, David Graham, of Chubbuck, and his 12-year-old son, Quinn, died after their canoe overturned.

With water temperatures that average 48 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, survival time in Shoshone Lake is estimated at only 20-30 minutes.

After the two men were reported missing last Sunday park rangers located a vacant campsite with gear on the lake's south shore, as well as a canoe, paddle, PFD, and other personal belongings on the east shore of the lake. The next day O'Neill's body was found along the east shore.

Over the past five days the National Park Service has used ground teams, aerial spotters, and searchers on rubber Zodiac-type watercraft in the search for Crumbo, said Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly. Sonar equipment also was being used, and divers were on standby.

"This is an incredible tragedy," Sholly said Saturday. "Mark and Kim were well known and highly respected rangers in the NPS. We're in very close contact with the families of both men who are working through the pain of these losses."

Crumbo had been a Navy Seal before his Park Service career and had two tours of Vietnam during the war. Part of his 20-year NPS career was spent at Grand Canyon National Park, where he was a river ranger and later the park's wilderness coordinator, according to his biography at the Rewilding Institute, where he was a board member.

On Friday the park announced that the search had turned into a recovery mission.

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

https://www.4029tv.com/article/missouri-teenager-dies-in-hiking-accident/37763777

Missouri teenager dies in hiking accident

The National Park Service says the 16-year-old lost his footing after he left the established trail.

PONCA, Ark. —

A 16-year-old boy from Ava, Missouri, died after he fell about 20 feet near the Lost Valley Trail at Buffalo National River on Saturday.

A news release from the National Park Service said that the teen was hiking with a large group from his church.

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According to authorities, he left the established trail near Eden Falls Cave and climbed up the steep hillside near the cave entrance. He lost his footing and fell about 20 feet. National Park Service rangers and paramedics were called to the scene at approximately 1 p.m.

Their attempts to save him were not successful.

The National Park Service warns that off-trail travel is often dangerous. The terrain in Buffalo National River can be rugged and steep. It is recommended that visitors stay on established trails to avoid injury.

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2021/09/25/searchers-trying-to-find-missing-crow-pass-hiker/

Search continues for hiker missing on Crow Pass Trail

By Annie Berman

Updated: 2 hours ago Published: 1 day ago

Gary Fisk. (Photo courtesy of Alaska Mountain Rescue Group)

Update 10 a.m. Monday: Search crews had not located Gary Fisk by Monday morning, said incident commander Dean Knapp with the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group.

Searchers were standing by on Monday as officials evaluated the situation, he said.

Update 3 p.m. Sunday: The search for a 74-year-old hiker who was reported overdue from Crow Pass Trail resumed Sunday morning, an official from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group said.

A helicopter dropped search crews off at different areas of the trail Sunday and other volunteers searched the area by foot and with dogs, said incident commander Dean Knapp.

By Sunday afternoon, no signs of Gary Fisk had been found, Knapp said.

Two teams planned to camp overnight along the trail Sunday and continue searching Monday morning if Fisk was still missing, Knapp said.

Original story:

Rescuers are searching for a missing Eagle River man who left Tuesday morning to hike Crow Pass, a popular hiking trail in the Chugach mountains.

Gary Fisk, 74, started at the Girdwood end of the trail at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday, and was expected to complete his hike sometime Thursday afternoon, Dean Knapp, an incident commander with the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, said Saturday.

Search operations began around 4 p.m. on Friday. Rescuers were able to send a ski team as far as Echo Bend, which is around four miles from the Eagle River Nature, the trail's end.

The search continued Saturday with a State Troopers helicopter dispatched midmorning, along with a team of 12 that set out to comb the length of the trail throughout the day.

No clues had been found by late Saturday afternoon, but the search would continue Sunday if needed, said Matt Green, also an incident commander with the Alaska Mountain Group who was helping lead the search.

Rescuers also interviewed other groups that had been hiking the trail during the same time period, "and there are no recent sightings," Knapp said.

The Alaska Mountain Rescue group is working with Alaska State Troopers and state park rangers to find the missing hiker, who they say was hiking alone, and described as "bearded, and 6 ft tall," according to a social media post from the rescue group.

"He may be wearing a royal blue coat, black knitted hat, black rain pants, charcoal pants, and bright red shirt," the post said.

A dispatch from the State Troopers described Fisk as "an experienced outdoorsman" who "was prepared for a 3-day hike but weather conditions deteriorated with heavy snow and trees down in the area."

"Conditions are generally described as awful," Knapp said. "We've got snow in places, and slush in other places, and that might certainly have slowed him down."

Crow Pass is a popular, challenging trail that runs about 21 miles between Girdwood and Eagle River, follows a portion of the original Iditarod Trail, and is typically completed by hikers in two to three days.

The trail has an elevation gain of about 3,290 feet, and includes a river crossing.

"One good thing is (other hikers) reported that the river crossing was easy," Knapp said.

The crossing is most treacherous midsummer when glaciers melt rapidly, he said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to the Alaska State Troopers at (907) 451-5100 or through their new app, AKTips.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com