Press release from Haywood County Sheriff’s Office:
***UPDATE*** At approximately noon on July 7, contact was made with the (3) missing hikers. They were located and are currently walking out with the search and rescue personnel. No further details are available at this time.
On Monday, 07/06/2020, at approximately 8:42pm the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center received a call for (3) overdue hikers. The (2) adults and (1) child had parked in the Black Balsam parking area, taken a day pack and gone for a day hike in the Shining Rock Wilderness area around noon and had failed to return. Personnel was dispatched to the area and located the vehicle in the parking lot. Several agencies responded with search teams and began to coordinate, manage and initiate the search.
The search operation has continued throughout the night with (4) SAR or search and rescue teams covering the area. This morning multiple agencies have arrived on-scene with search personnel increasing with dozens of 2,3, and 4 member teams. The urgency is the due to the lack of rain gear and being unprepared for the potential elements. No further or additional information is currently available as search efforts continue. The parking lot for the Black Balsam area has been closed to visitors by the National Park Service.
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