Fern Baird, 63, of Park City, Utah, disappeared after a solo day hike near Ketchum, Idaho, on October 19, 2020. Visiting the area, she asked hotel staff for a trail recommendation and chose the Prairie Creek Trail, a ten-mile loop in the Sawtooth National Forest. At 1:17 p.m. she signed the trail logbook writing To the lake and back. Her 2018 Subaru Crosstrek was later found parked at the Prairie Creek trailhead.

An extensive search was launched after hotel staff reported her missing on October 22. About 40 personnel from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, Blaine County Search and Rescue and Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue used ground crews, ATVs, search dogs and Idaho National Guard helicopters to search areas including Prairie Lake, Minor Lake and Mill Lake. Falling weather and snowfall complicated operations; the official search ended on October 30 after nine days with no sign of Baird. There has been no activity on her bank accounts, credit cards or cell phone since she went missing. Volunteer groups such as the Fowler-O’Sullivan Foundation have conducted later searches.

She was described as an experienced hiker and skier who generally stayed on marked trails. What information might help locate Fern or explain what happened on that October hike?