[Mod Snip}
By my personal knowledge of these trails, I think she came down about 1 mile and the missed a turn back toward Hilltop Park. It's easy to do. That's how she ended up on Roadrunner Loop. When you are on Roadrunner Loop it is easy to not be able to tell where you are. When I went running on Roadrunner Loop on May 23 with my friend, I would have thought we were heading west, but viewing my GPS map afterwards, it was actually south. This is the part of the park that is rarely used. ON the other hand, the main trail to the peak is steady/busy all the time. It's rare to go more than about 5 minutes without seeing people pass by.
I also resent the fact that someone above implied that those of us citizens who were searching impaired the official search teams. There was a helicopter flying overhead for HOURS, ASKING for people to look for this woman and to report her if seen. That's what made me leave my house and head to a smaller trailhead to search. I was out there for almost 2 hours -- approx 4 to 6 PM, and during that time I saw about 8 citizens and only 4 sheriff SAR on the ground.
This was on an obscure part of the mountain, NOT where she should have been. There were ZERO dogs in that area, at that time. The sheriff SAR people were all together, also way overdressed for the heat in full body armor, moving slowly, and honestly I think we ordinary citizens covered a lot more ground than they were covering at that point. Those of us who live nearby and run/hike these trails all the time probably knew the lay of the land and the network of trails better than they do.
The public is generally asked to stay out of missing hiker search areas. It's STANDARD. Having untrained community folks come in INCREASES the risk to everyone, including SAR volunteers, and makes the search less efficient.
Missing and deceased hiker cases are variations on "crime scene". They are generally off limits while SAR/LE search for clues. Untrained folks get in accidents, drop debris, step on evidence, complicate photo evidence from drones, show up while scoping, leave heat "footprints", etc. Keep in mind that when a hiker goes missing, no one knows why they are missing. They could indeed be a victim of a crime.
There are generally several SAR teams on a major search. They go out in small groups, assigned to different areas. If you see SAR and think they're understaffed, you may just be looking at one search cadre.
After a certain number of hours (48? 72? IIRC) LE will make an announcement that the search site is open to community volunteers. This is generally after a recovery scenario is likely.
SAR and LE searchers are trained. They have standard protocols, according to where the missing is most likely to be found. They have medical advice: they know how to dress and how to proceed. They must carry a lot of emergency supplies: if you observed them being over-dressed, they would indeed look "over-dressed" to many people. They are professionally decked out for the job.
And, yes, LE did come out and tell the public not to come out. It is extremely irresponsible if a news helicopter was out there encouraging the public to come over and search.
If you like looking for missing persons in wild/park areas, I'd recommend volunteering with your local SAR for training and field work.
I'm double posting this, so there is clarity about how SAR goes about a search. This same protocol is followed internationally. Note especially minute 20ff for current methodology.
If you like this kind of role....SAR groups almost certainly need volunteers. Many groups are desperate, because of the number of folks who go missing these days. Volunteers are being spread thin. So, volunteer, get trained, and help your community in a formal way.
www.columbia.com
