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UPDATE: Teen Missing In Great Smoky Mountains National Park Found

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By NPT Staff - August 22nd, 2017

Two search dog teams headed out into Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Tuesday to help in the search for a teen missing since August 11/NPS

Editor's note: This updates with the missing teen walking out of the park Tuesday.

An 18-year-old missing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park since August 11 walked out of the park Tuesday afternoon.

Austin Bohanan "walked out of the remote backcountry area near Tabcat Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park," a park release said. "Bohanan was transported by Rural Metro to Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, Tennessee."

The teen's appearance came just hours after dog teams headed out in the grueling search for the teen.

Bohanan was reportedly last seen August 11 hiking off-trail in the remote southwest corner of the park. He was reported missing two days later. Coordinated search efforts have been underway since Monday, August 14.

Rangers with Tennessee State Parks, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and Obed Wild and Scenic River have joined the effort, with continuing support from Great Smoky Mountains National Park staff, Backcountry Unit Search and Rescue (BUSAR), and Blount Special Operations Response Team members. Additional resources with Eastern National Incident Coordination Center and Virginia’s Black Diamond Search and Rescue are also assisting with the overall management of the search.

On Tuesday, six search teams were traversing densely vegetated steep slopes within the 6,700-acre search area.  One team, consisting of five members, planned to camp overnight in one of the more remote sections to maximize their search capabilities.

Community members have been graciously supplying resources, such as food and water, to assist with the search effort.

“The outpouring of support from the local community has been tremendous,” said incident commander Steve Spanyer. “Searchers now have an abundant supply of provisions and the teams are very appreciative of the support.”  

The search was concentrated in the southwestern portion of the park, an area of steep, heavily vegetated terrain/NPS

Comments

Submitted by Lee Dalton on August 23, 2017 - 10:09am.

At least there is one bit of good news from ouir parks . . . . 


Submitted by Rick B. on August 23, 2017 - 12:54pm.

It is nice when a SAR ends happily.


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