WA WA - Samantha Sayers, 28, Vesper Peak, North Cascades, 1 August 2018

[FlossyMay]

Yes, Sam's family/friends did. I think that's different than the PCT "trail angels" folks who are encouraged not to leave food out because of the wildlife issues @Suglo posted about.

I know even when camping you're supposed to keep your food sealed and out of reach to keep a hungry bear from finding it.

 

[sasha17]

I know even when camping you're supposed to keep your food sealed and out of reach to keep a hungry bear from finding it.

Yes, I use a bear canister to keep all kinds of critters out, like this: Bear Canister Basics

 

[Lilibet]

I guess I am just trying to figure out what familys of the missing are supposed to do once LE stops investigating. Are we really just resigned to letting a case grow cold? Do the family members just say "oh well, we looked, back to work and life now". After how long? After the LE says it's over? After a week? Two? Is a month and a half really excessive searching for a missing person?

What are families of the missing supposed to do? It depends on the situation, but most families IMO would not want anyone to put their lives in danger. Sam’s family will have to make a decision about this very soon. It doesn’t mean they’re resigned to letting her case grow cold and getting “back to work and life.” Is a month and a half excessive searching? Again, it depends on the situation and the season. Stopping a search for realistic reasons isn’t failing Sam. They can always pick it up again in the spring. And with all that, there is the very sad chance that she will never be found. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but it happens. And how long should they keep searching on that mountain? Rhetorical question.

Here’s another case of a missing hiker, Alissa McCrann of Portland, OR...although there is a chance she was never on the trail. Her friends and SAR and LE searched diligently. Here is a post from that thread Dec 25, 2015, about six days after Alissa disappeared:

Latest post on the fb page says

"Searchers worked tirelessly in up to 3 ft of snow, with more falling. Even with gear and training, it was simply no longer safe to continue the search. Her family agrees. They do not want more lives put in danger and could not have been more confident in the quality, skill and care taken in the search for Alissa."

[link to FB page no longer active]

No other news/plans are mentioned.

OR - Alissa McCrann, 37, Tigard, 19 Dec 2015

There were other searches later and it was hoped that the huge fires in the area last summer might reveal her remains. So far, Alissa is still missing. Her parents have lost their daughter. In the meantime, her brother died in a fire. And her teenaged has son lost his mother and uncle. I expect they are surviving their losses as best they can, knowing they’ve done their best for Alissa. My heart aches for them.

 

[MsFacetious]

Yes, Sam's family/friends did. I think that's different than the PCT "trail angels" folks who are encouraged not to leave food out because of the wildlife issues @Suglo posted about. (Although I'm now wondering if Sam's family went back and picked up the bags or if they're still out there causing similar wildlife/litter issues.)

It has also occurred to me that these bags of food could have brought wildlife into the area, where they then may have found Sam and dragged her away.

 

[Sillybilly]

This thread is now closed.

Please continue discussion at Thread #2.

 

[Tricia]

Thread Number 2 has been pulled due to so much misinformation. As soon as we have new news we will start the discussion.