KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Rescue teams at Glacier National Park are searching in wintery conditions and rugged terrain for two East Coast hikers reported missing by family members.
Park officials say 50 searchers are looking for 32-year-old Neal Peckens of Virginia and 32-year-old Jason Hiser of Maryland.
Park spokeswoman Denise Germann says weather is the biggest challenge facing searchers, who have found 18 inches of snow on the trail at higher elevations and five-foot drifts in some areas.
The two were reported missing Friday after failing to catch a flight home from Montana. Their vehicle was found late Friday, and the search started Saturday.
Germann says it's not clear if they were prepared for cold weather, or if they have much experience in the backcountry. Searchers believe the two were hiking and not mountain climbing.
Sound:
213-a-14-(Denise Germann (jur-MAN'), spokeswoman, Glacier National Park, in AP interview)-"very windy conditions"-Glacier National Park spokeswoman Denise Germann says searchers are running into difficult weather conditions. (14 Oct 2012)
<<CUT *213 (10/14/12)>> 00:14 "very windy conditions"
215-a-16-(Denise Germann (jur-MAN'), spokeswoman, Glacier National Park, in AP interview)-"gotten off trail"-Glacier National Park spokeswoman Denise Germann says searchers do have an idea of the route taken by the two hikers. (14 Oct 2012)
<<CUT *215 (10/14/12)>> 00:16 "gotten off trail"
214-a-10-(Denise Germann (jur-MAN'), spokeswoman, Glacier National Park, in AP interview)-"observation as well"-Glacier National Park spokeswoman Denise Germann says about 50 people are searching for the two missing hikers. (14 Oct 2012)
<<CUT *214 (10/14/12)>> 00:10 "observation as well"
212-a-08-(Denise Germann (jur-MAN'), spokeswoman, Glacier National Park, in AP interview)-"missing on Friday"-Glacier National Park spokeswoman Denise Germann says the search is on for two missing hikers. (14 Oct 2012)
<<CUT *212 (10/14/12)>> 00:08 "missing on Friday"
