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October 18, 2007
Search Continues for Autistic Hiker
DAVIS, W.Va. (AP) — A severely autistic hiker was not expected to shy away from strangers calling his name as they searched the dense woods for a fourth day, a spokesman for the rescue effort said Wednesday.
More than 300 people, volunteers as well as trained professionals, trudged through the rugged terrain of the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, shouting for 18-year-old Jacob Allen, or "Jake," to come to them to get ice cream, candy bars and other food.
"He has no fear of strangers," search spokesman Chris Stadelman said.
As night fell, the volunteers went home and were replaced by about 15 seasoned professionals skilled in night searches.
The family and the rescuers remained confident Allen would be found. "We're planning to find him tonight," Stadelman said. There were no plans to scale back the rescue effort, he said.
Gov. Joe Manchin visited the Allen family Wednesday evening and pledged the state's resources to help find the teen, spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said.
Allen's sister earlier told CNN the family worries that Jacob, who uses pictures to communicate with his family, isn't able to respond when called to.
"That is our biggest concern, that someone calls for him and he cannot say, 'I'm here,' you know, 'Help me,'" said Brittany Allen.
Jacob Allen wandered away from his parents Sunday afternoon while hiking on the Boar's Nest Trail in the Monongahela National Forest.
He had no food or water with him, but Stadelman said there are natural water sources in the search area, which consists of about 10 square miles of often steep and brush-covered terrain.
Though overnight temperatures have dropped to as low as 38 degrees since Jacob Allen got lost, hypothermia is not a concern as long as he stays dry, Stadelman said. Some parts of the region got rain Tuesday night, but the search area remained dry, Stadelman said.
Allen was wearing hiking boots, a long-sleeved T-shirt, a wind jacket and wind pants.
Editorial Note: Here at American Hiking Society, we send out our thoughts and prayers to Jacob and his family, and hope that a happy ending will occur in the very near future. To learn more about autism from an autistic hiker, you can listen to a 26-minute interview with Jeff Smith.
Hiking in the News | By Jeffrey Hunter | 03:10 PM
