Family asks hikers to help find woman

BOISE (AP) - The family of a woman who has been missing since she left for a short day hike in central Idaho last week is asking for hikers with backcountry experience to help in the search.

Sixty-three-year-old Jo Elliott-Blakeslee and 69-year-old Amy Linkert were last seen near Arco on Sept. 19. Officials believe the two went for a short hike at Carters of the Moon National Monument, where their pickup was found parked with their phones, purses and dogs inside.

They were reported missing Sept. 23 when Elliott-Blakeslee, a physician, didn't show up for work at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, Ore. Searchers found the body of Linkert on Wednesday; she appeared to have died from exposure.

Searchers scaled back efforts on Sunday as a storm with heavy winds moved into the area.

On Monday, Elliott-Blakeslee's family released a statement thanking all those who have helped in the search, and saying that while they realize the chances of finding Elliot-Blakeslee alive are growing slim, they remain hopeful. They also noted that the search area is in rugged and often dangerous territory and prone to unpredictable weather.

"Either way, we are committed to bringing her home and are actively recruiting volunteers with backcountry experience to keep the search going. But we will not chance injury or loss of searchers," the family's prepared statement said. "In that vein, at a minimum, those interested in participating should be able to hike 10 to 12 miles and climb 1,000 feet at a time in treacherous terrain."

The families of both Elliott-Blakeslee and Linkert are working with the Butte County Sheriff's Department and officials with Carters of the Moon National Monument in the search. The family said that it's critical for command center officials to be able to map every step the trained volunteers take with the help of radios and GPS technology, and they're accepting donations for equipment and other resources needed by the volunteers.