Samantha Sayers Still Missing After 2 Helicopter Searches

SEATTLE, WA - Missing Seattle hiker Samantha Sayers was still missing Tuesday, even after helicopters equipped with thermal imaging cameras searched the area where she was last hiking. Sayers was supposed to return from a hike up Vesper Peak last Wednesday, but has not been seen since.

According to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, the county's Snohawk helicopter searched Vesper Peak for 33 hours over the weekend. King County's Guardian 1 helicopter searched Monday. Both helicopters were equipped with cameras that detect thermal heat signatures.

"Yesterday, King County Search and Rescue conducted an air search with Guardian 1, using FLIR (thermal imaging cameras) to search the area. Over the weekend, SNOHAWK1, one of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office helicopters, conducted air search operations for 33 hours, including a FLIR search. Several trained SAR K9 teams and volunteers from across the state assisted with the search operation Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday," Snohomish County spokesperson Courtney O'Keefe said in an update Tuesday.

In addition to helicopters, multiple volunteer groups have been on the scene searching for Sayers. Vesper Peak is located in eastern Snohomish County near the Big Four Ice Caves.

Sayers' friends have put together a GoFundMe fundraiser to pay for the cost of the search. The proceeds go toward creating survival bags to drop off in the woods for Sayers, as well as to pay a drone specialist to aid in the search.

Police have talked to other hikers who saw Sayers at Vesper Peak last Wednesday. One hiker reported seeing her hiking away from the summit. Sayers, 27, is said to be experienced in the outdoors and would often go on day hikes alone.

Image courtesy GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner