Posted on 01/03/2008 6:00:17 AM PST by Dysart
UNION COUNTY, Ga. -- The search resumes Thursday morning in Union County for a missing hiker and her dog.
Friends believe Meredith Emerson, 24, from Gwinnett County, spent Tuesday and Wednesday night outside in the cold north Georgia mountains. Temperatures reached into the teens both nights.
Emerson's friends said she went hiking with her dog on Blood Mountain Trail Tuesday. Authorities said they have located Emerson's car and her dog's leash, but they have found no sign of Emerson or her black Lab. Emerson is 5'4", 120 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"She's an experienced hiker and a blue belt in martial arts," said Julia Karrenbauer, Emerson's roommate. "She's athletic and has a good head on her shoulders. So we're just hoping for the best."
A command post was set up and volunteers and Union County officials searched the trails Wednesday. Authorities pulled all searchers from the trails just before 6 p.m. Wednesday. They will resume their search first thing Thursday morning. A Georgia State Patrol helicopter was going to take part in the search, but was forced to land due to high winds.
Union County Fire Department spokesman Lt. Jeff Fortenberry said up to 30 emergency personnel and deputies planned to search a mountainous, six-mile stretch of trails south of Blairsville on Thursday. He said investigators have found no signs of foul play.
Temperatures reached 13 degrees with the wind chill factor in the single digits Wednesday night. Union County received snow Tuesday night -- which canceled classes for that school system Wednesday and Thursday.
Please refresh this developing story for updates.
I hope they find the young lady.
You’d think they could locate them in just a six mile area by air/scent dogs. Hope she has some survivor skills.
That’s some fairly rough, thick, terrain. However, the trail system there is not hard to navigate. Hope they find her.
Emergency Locator Beacons are small and light. If you are going to go off into the woods, you should make room in your pack for and ELB. At $500 they aren’t cheap, but you won’t be able to buy one when you need one, so it is better to plan ahead.
Found the car and “Leash”.
Dog running off leash? One of two things 1. Some nut case was up there or 2. The dog got in trouble and she tried to help.
Cold up there in those mountains. Wishing for the best.
This is part of the Appalachian Trail system?
Yes this is a heavily used part of the AT and the parking lot is right next to the only part of the trail that passes through a building. The old store in the gap at the base of Blood Mtn.
It was VERY cold last night. The cabin on top of Blood Mountain is where a boy scout troop died after being caught in a blizzard one year.
When I take my dog out to a place where she can run, the leash stays in my truck too. She may have been injured and the dog won’t leave her. That’s not an uncommon train in labs. She chould have gotten lost.
Found this in today's update. So she was off the beaten path a bit.
Or met a bear who hasn’t gone hibernating yet? Prayers that she might be found. My brother goes hiking alone in the Appalachians and it worries me because telling folks roughly where you’re going is not always enough.
well hell, if she's a "blue belt" then she should be able to take care of any man that might attack her.
I swear that movies and TV shows have given women the FALSE sense that if a man attacks them then it's going to be like some Hollywood movie where she pulls some slick "move" and/or kick a man in the balls or some other thing that just pummels a man.
What a crock. I hope this young lady is just lost and will be found. But a weapon, preferably a gun is the way to go for all women hikers, campers and just women traveling alone.
I'm just sure that someone will pipe up with a "story" about some bada## woman that can really, really kick butt ..... bullsh#t.
I've had this "discussion" in the Corps once with someone who was a "black belt" in whatever and took it to the mat. I've boxed, but mainly I've fought as a misguided youth and know/knew how to "fight". Almost ended up in the brig and had to go before my company commander.
There isn't very many women I feel can go to the ground and survive a pummeling of knees, elbows, bites, gouges, head butts and just get nasty. Most women aren't built that way.
I've taught my daughters how to shoot and mainly if confronted, how to strike and RUN.
Agree - I got a brown belt in TKD and if there’s one thing that taught me, it’s that I never want to fight someone bigger and stronger than me - or meaner. And more than one attacker - God help you if you aren’t armed.
As you say - Not Good
Do they have enough volunteers to help with the search? We is the CP located at?
Thank you
I got a new eardrum after I learned my lesson about fighting in pool halls at 16. Never judge a fighter by looks. Never.
Sounds like they have a person of interest. Girls missing is usually a bad thing. Just a sad commentary about our society that a young athletic lady can't go on a hike with her dog and expect to come home safe and sound. Her parents must be worried sick. I can't even imagine.
Just spent time at the rifle range with my youngest daughter, 10 years old and we go to pistols this summer.
A gun may have helped her, but also situational awareness is the key. If this is the case of an attack, these predators are hunters looking for prey and will use a dog, sob story or whatever to get close to their prey/kill.
Just sad.
This should be in the area. Can't imagine they could have enough volunteers at this point.
Thoughts and prayers.
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Not good.