Desperate search for hiker, 23, missing almost a week
The search continues for a missing 23-year-old hiker who was last heard from last Thursday when she checked in with her mother.
Tatum Morell is an experienced hiker who was planning on hiking to the top of five mountain peaks in the area, the Carbon County Sheriff's Office in the US state of Montana said.
On the afternoon of July 1, Tatum was hiking out on the West Fork Trail Head, at around 8pm that night, she made contact with her mother using a InReach device.
Red Lodge Fire Rescue said on Facebook Tatum was planning on camping for four nights in the area.
"It is believed that she left her campsite at Shadow Lake on Friday morning to climb one of the 12000 feet (3657 metres) peaks in the area and never returned," Red Lodge Fire Rescue said.
Since then, Tatum has not communicated with anyone, sparking a search of the area for the missing 23-year-old with the Sheriff's Office and Red Lodge Search appealing for assistance.
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"Tatum has an orange and grey tent set up in the Shadow Lake area," the statement on Facebook read.
"If anybody has seen Tatum while out hiking this weekend or has any information as to her whereabouts, please contact the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office."
Search continues into the night
The search efforts were announced on Monday and continued into the night, with officials resuming on Wednesday, local news station KTVQ reported.
"Search and Rescue teams from Two Bear Air and the National Guard have been searching the area extensively by helicopter both day and night since yesterday," Red Lodge Fire Rescue said.
"A ground team has reached her campsite and found no sign of the hiker. Plans to search surrounding peaks and approaches are underway.
"The terrain is very rugged and remote so ground searches could take some time. Additional area Search and Rescue teams will be joining the search on Wednesday."
KTVQ reported officials are trying to ping the location on Tatum's phone and her InReach device, with no luck.
In the most recent post Carbon County Sheriff's Office said there were no updates, but thanked the community for helping to get the word out.
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