A massive search is underway for a woman who set out for a hike at Washington’s Vesper Peak on Wednesday—and whom authorities say hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
Samantha Sayers, 28, is thought to have went hiking in the Cascade Mountains, located about an hour and 45 minutes northeast of Seattle, at approximately 8 a.m. She was supposed to return at about 6 p.m. to meet up with her boyfriend following the climb.
Vesper Peak stands 6,220 feet tall, and according to the Washington Trails Association, it’s “not for the novice hiker”—something Sayers’ family and police say she was not. She’s instead described as an avid and experienced hiker who has ventured to the same spot in the past, with an Instagram page capturing a plethora of photos showing her climbing mountain peaks around the state alongside her boyfriend, ABC News reports.
A man climbing the same peak Saturday was asked by officials to keep an eye out for Sayers while hiking.
“You never know, you hear it all the time, be prepared, but when the first thing you see or hear is a helicopter going by, which in the mountains is not a good thing,” Bill Herweh told KOMO. “It’s a pretty stark reminder that you just never know.”
The ground level weather in the area this week has ranged from lows in the mid-50s to highs in the 70s, though snow still covers Vesper Peak.Sayers, who has green eyes and a shaved head, was last seen wearing a black sports bra and light gray hiking pants.
A desperate search for the missing woman continues, with helicopters, K9 units, and dozens of search-and-rescue teams coming together to look for her.
A GoFundMe crowdfunding effort has been created to help scatter survival bags throughout the area— with hopes that Sayers is alive and the goods can assist in aiding her before she can hopefully be saved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information in the case, including those who may have seen Sayers hiking Wednesday, to call the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office at 360) 793-8986.
[Feature Photo: Samantha Sayers, GoFundMe]
