EMERY COUNTY, Utah – The search continues for an overdue hiker in Emery County.
Howard Stone, 64, was reported missing on Sunday after he did not return from hiking in Little Wildhorse Canyon near Goblin Valley State Park.
Howard’s son Brandon told FOX 13 News on Wednesday that he spoke to his father last Monday.
His father told him he was going to Emery County to play a round of golf before hiking through Little Wildhorse Canyon.
Brandon says he texted his dad at 3 p.m. on Saturday and never received a response.
“I contacted the sheriff’s office on Sunday morning after confirming with my sisters that no one had spoken to him,” Brandon said.
Emery County Search and Rescue, Department of Public Safety helicopters and Goblin Valley personnel began searching for Stone’s family on Sunday.
Casey Smith, spokesman for the Utah Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, said Tuesday evening that she had been contacted to also assist in the search efforts.
On Wednesday, one of their crews flew over the area.
“They flew about, I would say, six to eight hours, you know, not straight through, but they stay in the air about two hours before they have to come back down and refuel,” Smith said.
Smith told FOX 13 News on Wednesday that for such missions, they send a team of three crew members up in a Cessna to fly search patterns.
“When you’re looking for someone, it’s always difficult to go out there and do this,” Smith said. “We have almost 400 people across the state who are being trained to do this kind of thing.”
Brandon described his father as someone who loves his family. Howard has four children and 12 grandchildren.
“My dad is a great dad. He’s a huge BYU Cougar fan,” Brandon said. “He’s always up for an adventure and always looking for something fun to do.”
Brandon says that includes hiking.
“We as a family were in Battle Creek about three weeks ago … down in Pleasant Grove, and a few weeks before that he was alone in Angels Landing,” Brandon said.
Brandon spoke about the support his family has received from friends and people who helped search for his father.
“I am so grateful to these people, the Department of Public Safety who had a helicopter on site for several days and the Civil Air Patrol who is helping today,” Brandon said.
Well, his hope is quite simple.
“He’s a good father, he’s a good grandfather and we want to bring him home,” Brandon said.
A $10,000 reward is being offered to anyone who can lead the family to Howard’s whereabouts.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Emery County Sheriff’s Office at 435-381-2112.
