Hiker still missing on Mount Rainier

03:14 PM PDT on Monday, August 15, 2005

KING Staff and Wire Reports

PARADISE, Wash. - Rangers on Monday continued their search for a 22-year-old hiker who went missing during a camping trip in Mount Rainier National Park.

Searchers were focusing in an area north of Van Trump Park and east of the Kautz Glacier. Tracks matching Zachary Weston's hiking boots were found in the area Saturday, said Lee Taylor, a park spokeswoman.

"They have been following those up to an elevation of almost 10,000 feet," Taylor said.

KING

Zachary Weston

The terrain that Weston has apparently been on is a rocky ridge line. Park officials know he bought an icepick and was prepared for steep snowy slopes, "but certainly not prepared for hiking on the actual glacier," Taylor said.

Rangers began searching for Weston Friday, after his friend reported that he hadn't shown up to pick her up in Ashford. The car Weston was in was found parked at the Comet Falls trailhead Thursday night.

Weston of Meriden, Conn., is an aerospace engineering student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He had been camping and hiking in the park since since June 22 and planned to leave Aug. 21.

Weston is 5-foot-9,155 pounds, with brown eyes, brown hair in an afro style, with a beard. Has been at the park since June 22 hiking on the Wonderland Trail and other locations. He may be wearing a long-sleeveed shirt, gray hooded MIT zip-up sweatshirt, trail type tennis shoes, long pants, possible blue jeans, or black nylon sweat pants. He has metal rim glasses and contacts.