"Crews searched Mount Rainier National Park on Friday for a prominent hiker and outdoors writer who was reported missing late Wednesday while she researched a story."


http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023892720_hikermissingxml.html



http://news.msn.com/us/search-ongoing-for-outdoors-writer-on-mt-rainier









http://www.karenstrails.blogspot.com/


She must have fallen and injured herself, or been stricken with a sudden illness, to disappear like this. Heaven forbid a wild animal or human assaulted her!

Best wishes for the search teams, hoping she's found and brought home to write about her adventure.

Sad news.

"...Sykes’ daughter, Annette Shirey, told NBC News officials informed her that the body found was her mother’s. There are no reports of anyone else missing on the mountain, a parks spokesman said.

“She always said that if her life was going to end she would want it to end in the mountains — she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Shirey said. “She could bring out the beauty she saw and share it with the world.”

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/body-found-likely-missing-mount-rainier-hiker-n137641

This is very sad news. Karen was a very strong supporter of my wife BearQueen, even offering to hike with her. Karen Sykes was well know for being a great hiking reporter and a great hiker. She will be missed. RIP Karen!