Authorities and rescue teams searching for the missing hiker at Devil's Den State Park remain hopeful they'll find him alive, said Monte Fuller, park superintendent.
Rodney Letterman, 33, of Bartlesville, Okla., was last seen hiking on Butterfield Trail with a friend when they separated Sunday. His friend told officials Letterman had about 1 to 1 1/2 liters of water with him, but no other supplies.
"It's not uncommon for people to get on the trail and get overextended or turned around on where they are," Fuller said. "We do our best to go out there and find them, and we have had good success at that here."
Fuller said Thursday it is still a rescue search, not a recovery mission.
"We are still searching like he is still a missing individual," he said. "That's because the weather has been fairly good and there is water nearby, a few creeks. It may not be the cleanest water, but there is water."
Emergency crews from several counties have covered about 2,000 acres in the search. Several tracking dogs have been brought out, and a drone has searched the area with limited success because of the thick vegetation in the area, Fuller said. They've also used ATVs and equestrian teams. The family is on the scene as well, he said.
"It's a lot of walking and looking for clues," he said.
Letterman is 6 feet tall and weighs 240 pounds.
Anyone with information that might help the search can call the Washington County Sheriff's Office at (479) 444-5712.
NW News on 09/01/2017