KAMAS — Dozens of teams are out in the mountains near Crystal Lake, off Mirror Lake Highway, looking for a missing 74-year-old hiker.
His family says Melvin Heaps is an experienced hiker who likes to take day hikes of five to seven miles, but they became worried when he didn’t return Monday from his hike.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Department says the length of time is a concern.
“As time goes on, it becomes more worrisome for us, because we don’t know how much water and food that he has with him,” Lt. Andrew Wright told Utah’s Morning News on KSL Newsradio.
Wright said search efforts began again at 7 AM Wednesday morning, after being suspended for the night. Wasatch County teams are helping as well.
Teams are headed out today again on horseback and on foot. They also have dogs and aircraft available to help with the search. Heaps’ car was found at the Crystal Lake trailhead.
Heaps lives in Arizona. He is in Utah visiting family.