Missing River Forest Hiker And Dog Found Alive After Days-long Search

RIVER FOREST, IL — A River Forest woman who vanished after heading out for a hike near Glacier National Park in Montana has been found. Madeline Connelly, 23, and her dog, Mogi, were located Wednesday, a relative told NBC 5. It's a happy ending to a story that left her family and community members clinging to hope.

Local authorities had launched a massive search effort Saturday after Connelly’s family reported she left for a day hike Thursday and did not return. Connelly, an avid and experienced hiker, had been in Montana visiting family before she went missing on Bear Creek Trail. Though family members found her car near the trail, they had no other sign of her. During the search, police spotted black bears near Connelly’s footprints.

When search parties discovered Connelly, she was reportedly conscious and under evaluation by medics, NBC 5 reported. According to a video report from CBS Chicago, Connelly — ever the enthusiastic hiker — asked to hike out of the wilderness with rescue crews after she was located. After days of searching and back-to-back prayer vigils at St. Luke's Church in River Forest, the hopeful prayers of family, friends and community members have been answered.

>>Photo credit: Flathead County Sheriff's Department