Wenatchee man seeks his step-dad
Mark Swenson has been missing since he went for a day hike at Mt. Cashmere last week.
CASHMERE — A Wenatchee resident is asking for volunteers to help him find his step-dad.
Eric Smith’s step-dad Mark Swenson has been missing since he went on a solo hike on Mt. Cashmere two weeks ago.
“He took off for a day hike last Tuesday and never came back,” Smith said. “We called the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office at 9 p.m. after not hearing from him and they said they would send out a search party if there was still no sign of him Wednesday morning.”
The sheriff’s office sent search crews to find Swenson and have scaled back search efforts after six days with no sign of him. Swenson’s family is not ready to give up.
“We are still optimistic we will find something,” Smith said. “We will do whatever it takes.”
Smith has been camping out at Mt. Cashmere since last Wednesday, hiking with multiple search and rescue teams. He put flyers up around the area alerting residents to the situation and asking for help.
“We want as many people as possible out there trying to find him,” Smith said.
Swenson’s family believes he is alive. Swenson is a experienced hiker and in good shape, they said.
“He is smart and always well-prepared for his hikes,” Smith said. “Nothing like this has ever happened before.”
About 30 people are actively looking for Swenson. Volunteers, family friends and the county have been breaking into teams to cover as much territory as possible.
“We are asking for help now more than ever because Monday was the sheriff’s office’s last full day of searching, so time is of the essence,” Smith said.
To volunteer, contact search organizer Gene Ellis at 509-630-7541 or Eric Smith at 509-393-1167.
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