A search was ongoing Thursday near Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a missing Ohio woman/NPS, Kristina Plaas
A search was ongoing Thursday at Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a 53-year-old Ohio woman who was hiking near Clingmans Dome on Tuesday when she and her daughter became separated.
Park staff said Mitzie Sue “Susan” Clements, of Cleves, Ohio, was hiking with her daughter on the Forney Ridge Trail, near Andrews Bald, when the two became separated. She was last seen around 5 p.m. approximately a quarter-mile from Andrews Bald.
Park officials were alerted that Clements was missing on Tuesday evening and began to search the immediate area with no success. On Wednesday, officials expanded the search area, and additional personnel were called in to search. Wednesday night experienced searchers spent the night on the Appalachian Trail, attempting to locate Clements and to interview any hikers in the area. The search resumed Thursday morning with approximately 40 trained members of the park’s search and rescue Team.
Susan Clements is a white female with light brown hair and blue eyes. She is 5-foot, 6-inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. She was wearing a green zip-up sweater, black workout pants over black leggings, a clear rain poncho, and white tennis shoes, the park staff said.
Earlier this month a Tennessee man was found dead in an area of the park near Cades Cove. William Lee Hill, Jr., 30, of Louisville, Tenn., and a friend had gone into the park to poach ginseng roots. Searchers who found the body, which had signs of being fed on, also saw a bear in the area that was aggressive to them. The bear was later killed, and park officials have been awaiting necropsy results on the animal, as well as autopsy results on Hill to determine how he died.
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Comments
Hope the lady that lost get return to here family
Everytime I ready a story like this of someone becoming seperated from the group I scratch my head. Been hiking and climbing 45 years and never once lost sight a member of the group for even a minute. Baffeling how this can happen.
That’s a ridiculous statement. I’ve guess you’ve never been above 5000’ when the clouds came down. You can’t see 5 feet much less all your group. Not the the time for false accreditation and bravado!?
Seems like every hiker that body parts are found, the poor old bear gets the blame. i hope the lady is found alive and well, but considerin what taken place in US National parks for decades, there may not be much hope.