Found Deceased NC - Mitzi Sue "Susan" Clements, 53, hiker, Great Smoky Mountains NP, 25 Sept 2018

  • #61
Here's the junction I was thinking of. (from hikethesouth.com)

andrews-bald-5068.jpg
 
  • #62
Had they hiked this trail before?
 
  • #63
“The search includes helicopters and “multiple” canine teams, the park said. “Specialized search and rescue drones, operated by FAA-licensed pilots are being used in some areas,” according to Saturday’s post.

The closed road is among those serving as a “landing zone” for aircraft, the park said in the post.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports she and her 20-year-old daughter were close to the Clingmans Dome parking lot when they lost sight of each other. Clements’ daughter reported her missing around 5 p.m. Tuesday, the newspaper said.

National Parks Traveler says Clements’ disappearance comes just two weeks after a 30-year-old Tennessee man died in the park while poaching ginseng roots. His body had “signs of being fed on,” and an aggressive bear was found nearby, the site reported.

The bear was trapped and “biologists recovered human DNA from it” before the bear was euthanized, said TV station WLOS.”

Hiker separated from her daughter still missing 4 days later in Great Smoky Mountains
 
  • #64
I'd like to know more backstory too. Seems odd to be out that far and attired that way at 5pm?
 
  • #65
Then you and I going for a hike is a bad idea!! I’m the same way. I was lost in an acre park. Not kidding you, I panicked. Lol
LOL, at least we wouldn't be alone if we went together! I am sure we'd take precautions like have about a month's worth of food and water with us, just in case. Seriously, I have no sense of direction, never have, never will. Street names mean nothing to me, no matter how often I drive by them- I use landmarks instead to find my way around.

I hope they find this poor lady soon. I admire those who do go hiking alone, it is a wonderful way to relax and clear your head while seeing beautiful sights in nature.
 
  • #66
LOL, at least we wouldn't be alone if we went together! I am sure we'd take precautions like have about a month's worth of food and water with us, just in case. Seriously, I have no sense of direction, never have, never will. Street names mean nothing to me, no matter how often I drive by them- I use landmarks instead to find my way around.

I hope they find this poor lady soon. I admire those who do go hiking alone, it is a wonderful way to relax and clear your head while seeing beautiful sights in nature.
No wonder we click Steels. I have always been directionally challenged. My husband used to tell me I couldn’t find my way out of a paper bag.
 
  • #67
Here's an article of all the organizations searching for her. Pretty impressive. It's very unforgiving terrain in areas and densely covered with vegetation in a lot of the area. She went hiking in clothing the same color as the vegetation which isn't helpful if she has fallen. I was having trouble spotting the SAR books in bright yellow in the one picture of the landscape. They need to find her soon, once it gets down in the 40's at night, she won't survive with just workout pants and a light sweater.
 
  • #68
“Across the country in North Carolina and Tennessee, searchers still had no clues to the whereabouts of Mitzie Sue "Susan" Clements, 53, of Ohio, who was hiking with her daughter in the Clingmans Dome area last Tuesday when she went missing.

"We are presuming she is in the park, there is no compelling reason to believe otherwise at this point," Great Smoky Mountains spokeswoman Julena Campbell said Sunday afternoon. "But again, while the extensive search is taking place in the park, our investigators still work 'other angles,' if you will, as needed, on the chance that she is not. Again, no reason to presume she is NOT in the park, but as a matter of protocol, we always look at other possibilities."
Search On For Missing Woman At Sequoia National Park
 
  • #69
"Ms. Clements was last seen around roughly 5 p.m." said Julena Campbell with GSMNP. "The daughter decided to hike ahead just a little bit. The plan was to turn around and just meet up with her. She did that. They weren't separated for very long but when she turned around she couldn't find her mother.

"We're also not just looking for the individual but we're also looking for clues," said Campbell. "So, anything we know she has with her, any items of clothing, or, that sort of thing."
Search underway for missing woman near Clingmans Dome
 
  • #70
Del so sorry. Wrong thread. Another missing person was just found in another National Park I meant to post in. I am surprised how many hikers become missing. I don’t know why because our natural geographical wonders are vast and mysterious. We as humans look for tranquility and nature within these seemingly sanctuaries. I hope for the best of outcomes for Susan. I am worried though. Most of the research I’ve come across shows this disappearance is an anomaly. Most missing people in National Parks are found relatively quickly. It causes me to stop and wonder.
 
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  • #71
Are there witnesses who saw them both at park and trail?
 
  • #72
Are there witnesses who saw them both at park and trail?
I haven’t come across any statements saying so in the articles I’ve found.
 
  • #73
Hmmmmm.....me either.
 
  • #74
That’s a VERY popular area!
 
  • #75
My granddaddy was a Parkie, as a child I knew some of the rangers on site when Great Smoky Mountain Nat'l Park became a park. Stories, stories....
Oh do tell @Laughing . I wanna hear.
 
  • #76
  • #77
I’m really sorry to ask this but looking at her picture has she ever had a stroke? So very sorry to ask this!
It’s ok to wonder. Don’t worry. I thought the very same thing when I saw her picture. I had a massive right brain stroke in 2015 with several TIA’s before that. All affected the left side of my body. The facial drooping was significant at first but has much improved over the years with physical therapy and time. I can hardly tell it now. I also thought about possible Bell’s Palsy.
 
  • #78
Oh...didn’t think about bell palsy. Just saw the odd smile.
Strangely enough my 15 month old great nephew suffered a stroke last month. I guess I am super sensitive to smiles these days.
But you would also think that they would have mentioned any medical issues.
This is very strange!
 
  • #79
No, no, no! Go out and buy the books written by the rangers like I did! There are many fascinating stories about the missing and mystery’s of the park!
I can only imagine. The last couple of months I’ve been reading about the National Parks and the missing with the frequent and current cases discussed here on WS. I am bewildered why Susan hasn’t been discovered as of yet. It seems odd (to me) that her family hasn’t spoken out and become vocal. The only referenced MSM account of any response from the family is that “She’s a good mother.” I am glad they are speaking in present tense. Though; usually the first and earliest statements from a missing person’s family indicate priorities issued to the public in interest of pleading for help and providing any details to lead to a successful search and outcome.
 
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  • #80
Any boyfriends involved?
 

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