Developing: 150 volunteers search Saturday for hiker in Summit County

Melvin Heaps. Photo Courtesy: SCSO

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah, Aug. 5, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The search for 74-year-old hiker Melvin Heaps is going strong Saturday, but it’s unclear how long the formal effort will continue.

Among those searching are volunteers from the Garrett Bardsley Foundation, which on Saturday posted the following update:

After further consultation with the Summit County Search and Rescue, the volunteer search will continue all day today (Saturday), but it will *not* continue tomorrow (Sunday).

Volunteers are still very much needed today (Saturday) and we hope to have as much help as possible to cover as much ground as we possibly can….

Our hearts and prayers are with Melvin and his family, and we’ll be searching as much as we possibly can today in hopes of finding him today.

Gephardt Daily has requested information from Summit County Sheriff officials.

Melvin Heaps Courtesy photo

Heaps, an avid hiker, set out for a day hike Monday morning, but did not return. His car was found at the Crystal Lake Trailhead.

Ground and air searches have been conducted since Tuesday morning for Heaps, who is deaf in one ear and wears a hearing aid in the other ear. Officials fear the battery could have died at some point, preventing Heaps from hearing the calls of searchers.

On Wednesday, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement from Heaps’ family:

“Our family appreciates all the support we have received from the
Search & Rescue units, and the concern and interest of friends and family.

“We continue to be hopeful because we know Mel and his love
of the outdoors. We respectfully ask for privacy at this time — thank you.”

When last seen, Heaps wore a red, long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans with suspenders. He usually wears a straw hat when hiking, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office says.

Anyone with information on Heaps whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 435-615-3600.

Gephardt Daily will have more news on this developing story as it breaks.

Crystal Lakes location is indicated with a red marker Image google Maps

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