This is from a local news radio FB site. It gives more info directly from the husband about the trip to get supplies. There are lots of comments about how wonderful and happy the couple are (along with all the people who don't know them and assume he did something to her.)
Facebook
If you search for Stephanie Womacks missing on FB, you'll find some other sites posting little tidbits here and there, but I don't think I can link them because they're not news or law enforcement agencies. I believe part of the info is from the Pickens County Sheriff's Department press release, which I couldn't find.
The photo in the news releases was taken near the park entrance. The sign is in front of an incredible view of Table Rock on Highway 11. I assume that is the same sweatshirt Stephanie is presumed to be wearing.
There are two camping areas. Based on one of the above tidbits, they were in the White Oaks campground. This is the map from Table Rock's website.
View attachment 568971
There are only 25 sites in this campground, and it's not very full during the week in the winter. This is the side we always stay on because it's quiet and secluded. From the campground, the road back up to the main road is fairly steep. Although we're hikers, we always take a car over to Pinnacle Lake because it's quite a ways from the campground.
This park is in the middle of nowhere. There are almost NO nearby places to get supplies. So either her husband went to the camp store (if it's open this time of the year - I couldn't find their hours), or he had to drive quite a ways away to get to any kind of a convenience store. In any case, he would have been gone at the very minimum 30 minutes to much longer, depending upon where he had to go. Sunset is 6:30 right now, and it gets darker quicker in the mountains.
Knowing the campground like I do, I would search the immediate area around the campground itself. I can't remember exactly how it's laid out, but I'm remembering there being some steep dropoffs behind some of the sites. She may have gone into those woods to look for camp wood. I'd also search the Pull Off Table Rock Overlook going toward the East Gate Entrance (which is closed). You can get a great view of the mountain from that overlook. If I remember correctly, there's a steep dropoff around the overlook. The other place I've been tempted to scope out while I'm camping there are the cabins that are near the White Oaks campground. You know, to peek in the windows to see what they look like inside.
I can't envision anyone taking off to go to either of the lakes on foot that close to dark. Of course, they need to search the lakes. We see that all the time :-( But I would really pay closer attention to that overlook because that makes the most sense if she went out for a walk. It would be a nice place to watch the sunset (except it's facing the wrong direction.)
There is practically no cell service anywhere in the park, except maybe at the top of the mountain. By the way, getting to the top of that mountain is rough! It's a 2000 foot ascent. Three hours up and two hours down for someone in good shape. You are asked to register before you hike it at a self kiosk, and you have to be off the trails before sunset.
I sure hope they find her soon. It's not looking good for her to be out there this long without shelter. :-(
If anyone has questions about the park, let me know.
This is just all so sad. I can’t believe she would have wandered off enough to get that lost, but that’s what it looks like at this point. I still think she fell off an embankment of some sort.
www.wyff4.com
www.foxcarolina.com
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