3 Hikers Missing in Kings Canyon National Park | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Friday, October 16, 2009

Fresno, CA -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group Matching Description of Missing Backpackers Found Alive
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A helicopter was able to fly three missions Wednesday over the remote area where the men went missing. The missing backpackers have been overdue since Monday but a storm that dumped rain and snow Tuesday delayed search efforts by a full day. "The weather was really not on our side yesterday. We could not get a helicopter; we could not get searchers on the ground," said Adrienne Freeman with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

25 year old Rogers is a San Bernadino police officer and an Iraq War Veteran. His sister, Lynn Rogers said his family is more worried now than they were during his entire tour. Another brother and the father of his two friends are also hiking in the wilderness now, trying to find the missing men.

Teams are searching a 65 mile area for the hikers where the elevations are as high as 14,000 feet. The effects of Tuesday's storms are still impacting the search. "Very swollen creeks, snow on the ground, probably trails that have been covered by snow, as well as the fact that the terrain, even on a good day, is very remote. And, it's a very large search area," said Freeman.

Family members are hoping Rogers military training is enough to get all three men out safely but they're also asking for prayer.

Five different counties, including Fresno and Tulare have committed search teams. Park officials are also expecting some additional aircraft to aid in the search.