Park search entering fifth day
<p>Jake Rigby, a Glacier Park seasonal worker, has been missing since Sunday.</p>
Searchers return to Glacier Park's rugged alpine backcountry today to look for a hiker missing since Sunday .
The search enters its fifth day Friday.
Searchers are looking for the slightest evidence that might lead to Jacob "Jake" Rigby, 27, a seasonal park worker who did not return from a day hike.
On Wednesday, a small piece of red mesh plastic was found, and park officials are trying to determine if it may be linked to Rigby.
"We don't know if it means anything or not," Denise Germann, the park's public affairs specialist, said Thursday. "We think it's off a piece of gear."
A photograph of the material was posted on the park's Facebook page, along with a photo of Rigby wearing a bright green Flylow jacket that is believed to be in his possession. Park officials are seeking any public input that might help find Rigby.
A weather front brought rain, snow and lower temperatures to the park, complicating the search. Snow fell above 6,400 feet, and part of the search effort is being conducted above that elevation, Germann said.
A low cloud ceiling limited aerial operations until later in the day on Thursday, she said.
Some 17 search crew members stayed Wednesday night in the primary search area and were prepared to stay out another night.
"They endured rain most of the night," Germann said.
Most of the search remains focused on the Ole and Park Creek drainages in the southern portion of the park.
Searchers believe Rigby may have reached the top of Brave Dog Mountain: Crews on Tuesday checked the register atop the mountain and found a signature that is believed to be Rigby's, dated Sunday.
On Wednesday, a team of searchers reached the trail register atop an unnamed mountain, locally known as "8888," that is between the two drainages and between Brave Dog Mountain and Mount Despair. However, the tattered and faded register revealed no signatures. The peak is 8,888 feet high hence its informal name.
"Search managers believe that the lack of a signature is not considered clear evidence for Rigby's presence or absence from the area," Germann said in a press release.
This search area is north of U.S. 2 near the Snow Slip Inn and the Devil Creek Campground. Rigby's vehicle was located Monday at mile marker 192 along U.S. 2.
Anyone who may have been in the area in the Ole Creek or Park Creek drainages on Sunday and may have seen Rigby is encouraged to contact park dispatch at 406-888-7800 or 406-888-5800.
Posters with Rigby's photo and key information have been posted in the park and other locations.
The search for Rigby, a seasonal Glacier Park worker, began after he failed to return from a day hike on Sunday.
Rigby is an avid and skilled hiker and is familiar with the park.
He has excellent scouting capabilities and enjoys hiking off trail. He is 6 feet tall with brown, short curly hair. He is of medium build and believed to be wearing a blue T-shirt, blue Patagonia hiking shorts, white/silver Mamut daypack, size 10 La Sportiva boots with Vibram soles, and possibly gaiters.
In addition to Glacier Park personnel, the Flathead National Forest and Flathead Valley Search and Rescue are participating in the search.