ID ID - Fern Baird, 64, poss. hiker, Prairie Creek Area, Blaine Co, 22 Oct 2020

[Blueberry2720]

Idaho State Journal -
Intense search underway for missing female hiker



Snipped:

"On Thursday, October 22, 2020, at approx 1:00 p.m., the Blaine County Sheriff's Office received information about a possible missing hiker in the Prairie Creek Area, north of Ketchum, Idaho.

Deputies responded to the area and located a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek with the Utah Plate YOPABAG at the Prairie Creek trailhead that belongs to the missing person, Fern L. Baird, age 64 of Park City, Utah.

While investigating the circumstances it was determined that Baird had may have gone for a hike on Monday, October 19, 2020, at approx 1:00 PM and has not returned."

More in article ...

 

[indicolite22]

Blaine County Sheriff

If anyone was in the Prairie Creek area on or after October 19, has seen Baird, or has any information about her, please call Blaine County Emergency Communications at (208)788-5555 and ask to speak with an on-duty deputy. At this time we are not asking for volunteers to search the area.

 

[Penny4YourThoughts]

Log into Facebook | Facebook Bakina Fern Baird's FB pg
Her personalized license plate is for the YOPA yoga bags (I'm guessing she sells them)

Blaine County Sheriff Blaine County Sheriff

 

[Rosegold68]

she's been gone a while

another one!

 

[PommyMommy]

Idaho State Journal -
Intense search underway for missing female hiker

View attachment 269062

Snipped:

"On Thursday, October 22, 2020, at approx 1:00 p.m., the Blaine County Sheriff's Office received information about a possible missing hiker in the Prairie Creek Area, north of Ketchum, Idaho.

Deputies responded to the area and located a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek with the Utah Plate YOPABAG at the Prairie Creek trailhead that belongs to the missing person, Fern L. Baird, age 64 of Park City, Utah.

While investigating the circumstances it was determined that Baird had may have gone for a hike on Monday, October 19, 2020, at approx 1:00 PM and has not returned."

More in article ...

Not good. Praying for a miracle!

Temps per Accuweather:

• Oct 19 63°/37°
• Oct 20 61°/36°
• Oct 21 55°/37°
• Oct 22 43°/27°
• Oct 23 46°/25°
• Oct 24 54°/28°
• Oct 25 29°/10°

OCT 24, 2020
Police search for missing 64-year-old Utah woman who went hiking north of Ketchum | ktvb.com
[...]

About 20 Blaine County Sheriff Search and Rescue members BSCO began searching the area, including Prairie Lake, Minor Lake, and Mill Lake.

Search teams received the help of an Idaho National Guard helicopter and the search had to stop at dusk, according to officials. The search resumed the following morning with over 40 members of the BCSO, BCSAR and Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue from Boise.

The search for Baird started again at 8 a.m. Saturday and now officials are asking for the public's help in finding the missing 64-year-old woman. Anyone that was in the area on Oct. 19 or know anything to call Blaine County Emergency Communications at (208) 788-5555 and ask to speak with an on-duty deputy.

 

[rainynights]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernlovettbaird/

Fern's Resume

Roster Search | UtahRealEstate.com

 

[RickshawFan]

Another hiker missing? And this one was reported missing after already being gone 3 days.

 

[oviedo]

Another hiker missing? And this one was reported missing after already being gone 3 days.

What are the odds? I am surprised no one reported her missing sooner ?

 

[RickshawFan]

I believe this is the area we're looking at. It sounds like FB would have done a hike and not a peak-bagging, both of which are options from this trailhead.

Prarie Lakes Trail Hiking Trail, Sun Valley, Idaho

 

[RickshawFan]

Aaaah..... some misleading info on the trail write-ups. The 4.7 miles is one-way, and not round trip. A hiker points it out here: Praire Creek Loop
This could definitely create an issue....
This area will go significantly below freezing at night, and it's very high.

 

[RickshawFan]

This is another trail option that incorporates Prairie Lakes: Hike to Prairie and Miner Lakes
There are photos in this article.

Note: It's possible this is the same route as "Prairie Lakes Loop". Hard to tell without more info.

 

[RickshawFan]

Update: Idaho officials looking for Boise couple who might have seen missing Utah hiker

It turns out she signed the trail register at the trail head, as did some other folks, so LE knows that a cluster of folks were on that trail at the same time.

This is one reason why you sign the trail register....

It seems unlikely she was carrying the 10 essentials, since she "was last seen with a fanny pack". Depending whether this was in town or on the trail, this might be very bad news. A fanny pack isn't big enough for the 10 essentials, no matter the size of the fanny pack (there are some pretty big ones out there). There has been snow in that area since she went missing.
Without the 10 essentials, there's not a snowball's chance in heck... They'd include insulation, some kind of shelter, ability to start a fire, long underwear...

 

[indicolite22]

Blaine County Sheriff

To this point, the search has focused on the Prairie Lakes, Minor Lakes, Norton Lakes, and Mill Lake at elevations from 7,100 feet to 9,200 feet. The search has included three K9 search teams, several Idaho National Guard helicopters, two drones, and numerous searchers on foot, motorcycles, and horseback.

Fern Baird is 5’5” tall and weighs 115 lbs. Baird was last seen as pictured wearing a grey jacket, black pants, and carrying a black fanny pack.

 

[RickshawFan]

Blaine County Sheriff

To this point, the search has focused on the Prairie Lakes, Minor Lakes, Norton Lakes, and Mill Lake at elevations from 7,100 feet to 9,200 feet. The search has included three K9 search teams, several Idaho National Guard helicopters, two drones, and numerous searchers on foot, motorcycles, and horseback.

Fern Baird is 5’5” tall and weighs 115 lbs. Baird was last seen as pictured wearing a grey jacket, black pants, and carrying a black fanny pack.

I'm thinking that photo might have been taken at a Ranger station. Hopefully, that fanny pack is just a "purse" and she has a real pack.

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 26, 2020
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/article246736031.html
Blaine County officials are looking for a Boise couple and a group of Oklahoma hikers who might have been the last people to see a Utah hiker before she went missing in the Sawtooth National Forest a week ago.

[...]

“We are interested in speaking with an unknown Boise couple and also a party of five hikers from Tulsa, Oklahoma, that both hiked either the West Fork drainage of Prairie Creek or to Prairie Lake on October 19, 2020,” said Sheriff Steve Harkins in the news release. “These individuals may have information or saw Baird hiking that day.”

[...]

“To this point, the search has focused on the Prairie Lakes, Minor Lakes, Norton Lakes and Mill Lake at elevations from 7,100 feet to 9,200 feet,” the news release said. “The search has included three K9 search teams, several Idaho National Guard helicopters, two drones, and numerous searchers on foot, motorcycles and horseback.”

[...]

Baird’s family is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to her return. Anyone with information on Baird’s whereabouts should contact Lt. Mike Abaid at (208) 578-3371 or sheriff@co.blaine.id.us.

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 27, 2020
Park City woman reported missing, last seen hiking in Idaho on Oct. 19
[...]

Fern L. Baird, 62, signed in at the Prairie Creek Trailhead, north of Ketchum, Idaho, on Monday, Oct. 19 at approximately 1 p.m., according to the Blaine County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies began searching for Baird Thursday after she was reported missing. Her car was located in the Prairie Creek parking area shortly after.

From the trailhead, however, there are multiple hiking options Baird could have taken, the sheriff's office reported.

[...]

Search and rescue crews are continuing to look for Baird, despite below freezing night-time temperatures and winter weather conditions.

[...]

The sheriff's office says Baird is an experienced hiker, but it is not known to do technical hikes or mountaineering. She does not have a dog.

[...]

 

[Wild Rose]

Oh this is so bad. Did she have any phone pings?

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 27, 2020
Police keep searching for missing hiker

Fern Baird signed in at the Prairie Creek trailhead north of
Ketchum around 1 p.m. on Oct. 19. She has not been seen since.

[...]

As of midday Tuesday, they were still looking.

Wintry conditions have challenged the search, with four inches of snow covering the high elevations over the weekend, Chief Deputy Will Fruehling told the Express. So far, the operation has focused on the areas around Prairie Lakes, Minor Lakes, Norton Lakes and Mill Lake using three K9 search teams, multiple Idaho National Guard helicopters, two drones, and officers on foot, motorcycles and horseback.

“We feel like we’ve hit that area pretty hard,” Fruehling said Tuesday, “and we haven’t found any sign of her. But we’re going to keep looking. We’re not ready to give up yet.”

[...]

 

[lzoells]

Idaho State Journal -
Intense search underway for missing female hiker

View attachment 269062

Snipped:

"On Thursday, October 22, 2020, at approx 1:00 p.m., the Blaine County Sheriff's Office received information about a possible missing hiker in the Prairie Creek Area, north of Ketchum, Idaho.

Deputies responded to the area and located a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek with the Utah Plate YOPABAG at the Prairie Creek trailhead that belongs to the missing person, Fern L. Baird, age 64 of Park City, Utah.

While investigating the circumstances it was determined that Baird had may have gone for a hike on Monday, October 19, 2020, at approx 1:00 PM and has not returned."

More in article ...

I was just at this trailhead and there is nothing there?? Have they found her??

 

[indicolite22]

What are the odds? I am surprised no one reported her missing sooner ?

It is stated in the comments at KSL 5 TV who reported her missing. Not surprising.