A Day Hike That Turned Into a Mystery

On August 1, 2018, 27-year-old Samantha “Sam” Sayers embarked on a solo day hike to Vesper Peak in Washington’s Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. An experienced hiker familiar with the challenging Sunrise Mine Trail, Sam planned to return by evening and had arranged to check in with her boyfriend, Kevin Dares, by 6:00 p.m. When she failed to do so, concern quickly escalated. Kevin drove to the trailhead that night and found her blue Ford Fiesta still parked there. Despite his immediate search efforts, Sam was nowhere to be found.

The Extensive Search Effort

The following morning, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office initiated a large-scale search operation. Over the next three weeks, more than 8,000 hours were dedicated to finding Sam. The search involved 70 ground searchers, 14 dog teams, helicopters, drones, and even the sheriff’s Marine Unit. Volunteers from across the state joined the effort, leaving supply bags containing essentials like ponchos, energy bars, and flashlights along the trail. Despite these exhaustive efforts, no trace of Sam was ever discovered....Read More