Search launched for missing hiker in Cascade foothills
NORTH BEND, Wash. - Searchers are looking for a Pierce County man known as an avid hiker who disappeared Friday, apparently while in the North Bend area of the Cascade foothills.
The missing man, identified as John Wright, 50, of University Place was last seen by his wife, Virginia, on Friday morning before he left on a day hike.
She said she realized he was missing when he didn't pick up their daughter after day camp at 6 p.m. Friday - which was totally unlike him.
"He would never not go and pick her up without having me go get her," she said, describing her husband as "very responsible." He is an employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Virginia Wright then notified authorities, who were able to get a very accurate ping on his cell phone in the Cedar Falls watershed area off Interstate 90. But they have not been able to ping his cell phone since Friday afternoon, and he hasn't called.
On Saturday morning crews began searching for John Wright's vehicle, a dark blue Nissan Xterra SUV, at trailheads in the area around North Bend and Mount Si.
The vehicle was finally located at about 1 p.m. Saturday at a trailhead near the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. Searchers broke out the windows so search dogs could pick up Wright's scent, but so far they have not located him.
Virginia Wright said her husband is an experienced hiker who carries a headlamp, thermal blanket and extra food and water. But he doesn't carry an emergency beacon or GPS, she said.
She said the couple had planned to take an Argosy cruise to Blake Island on Saturday morning,
"I got home from work (Friday) and there was a receipt for the tickets," she said. "I have not heard from him since then."
The missing man, identified as John Wright, 50, of University Place was last seen by his wife, Virginia, on Friday morning before he left on a day hike.
She said she realized he was missing when he didn't pick up their daughter after day camp at 6 p.m. Friday - which was totally unlike him.
"He would never not go and pick her up without having me go get her," she said, describing her husband as "very responsible." He is an employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Virginia Wright then notified authorities, who were able to get a very accurate ping on his cell phone in the Cedar Falls watershed area off Interstate 90. But they have not been able to ping his cell phone since Friday afternoon, and he hasn't called.
On Saturday morning crews began searching for John Wright's vehicle, a dark blue Nissan Xterra SUV, at trailheads in the area around North Bend and Mount Si.
The vehicle was finally located at about 1 p.m. Saturday at a trailhead near the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. Searchers broke out the windows so search dogs could pick up Wright's scent, but so far they have not located him.
Virginia Wright said her husband is an experienced hiker who carries a headlamp, thermal blanket and extra food and water. But he doesn't carry an emergency beacon or GPS, she said.
She said the couple had planned to take an Argosy cruise to Blake Island on Saturday morning,
"I got home from work (Friday) and there was a receipt for the tickets," she said. "I have not heard from him since then."
