Ohio woman hiking in Great Smoky Mountains park is missing

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — An Ohio woman hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that borders North Carolina and Tennessee has gone missing.

Park spokeswoman Julena Campbell tells The Ashville Citizen-Times that Mitzie Sue “Susan” Clements, of Cleves, Ohio, was last seen Tuesday evening. Campbell says Clements was hiking with her daughter near Andrews Bald and the Clingmans Dome parking area when the two separated. Rangers began searching that night.

Experienced searchers spent Wednesday night on the Appalachian Trial to interview hikers. The park’s Search and Rescue Team then continued the search Thursday morning.

Campbell says the park has about 100 search and rescue missions each year, and it’s rare to not find someone within the first day. Those with information can call the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009.