Samantha Sayers, 28, vanished after a solo day hike on Vesper Peak in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on August 1, 2018. An experienced hiker who frequently used that five-mile route, she was seen on the trail that day and reportedly had lunch with another hiker near the summit. She was last observed descending the south side of the peak, which is not the direction of the trail back to her car.

Samantha planned to call her boyfriend by 6 p.m. to say she was heading home; when the call never came he found her vehicle at the trailhead and, after a short private search, alerted authorities on August 2. The official search became one of Snohomish County’s largest, totaling more than 8,000 volunteer and team hours over three weeks and employing helicopters, drones and at least 14 search dog teams. No trace of Samantha was found and the official search was suspended after leads and tips were exhausted.

Her boyfriend, family and volunteer groups continued searching privately, including drone efforts with footage shared online. The disappearance remains an active missing person investigation and a deeply painful unresolved case for Samantha’s loved ones.

If anyone hiked Vesper Peak on August 1 and saw Samantha or anything unusual on the south side of the summit, please come forward with information.