Search for Sisters Continues

A large-scale search for three missing girls will continue today in Teton County, Wyoming, following a report to the Teton County Sheriff’s office on Tuesday, July 7 that they were overdue from a backpacking trip in the area. After an initial search by local officials, the vehicle belonging to Megan Andrews-Sharer, age 25, was located on Wednesday, July 8 at the Swift Creek Trailhead in the Bridger- Teton National Forest, approximately 30 miles south of Jackson. Megan’s sisters Erin, age 22, and Kelsi, age 16, were accompanying her on the trip.
Search personnel were called in yesterday afternoon to begin canvassing likely locations where the girls may have hiked. Ground crews, dog teams, personnel on horseback, and a helicopter were utilized in the search efforts yesterday, with crews remaining in the field until late last night.
Today’s search efforts will include additional county and federal resources from multiple agencies. Crews will focus on nine search areas south-southeast of the Jackson area in the Gros Ventre Wilderness. Weather permitting, two helicopters will assist in the search. They will be used for both area reconnaissance and for inserting high mountain teams into more remote areas.
Teton County Sheriff Jim Whalen, serving as Incident Commander for the event, remains optimistic that the girls became lost in the network of the trails that wind through the area and will be found soon. “They are healthy, fit young women and were well prepared for this trip,” Whalen explained. “However, despite their experience in the backcountry, they may have simply made a wrong turn.” The girls left with appropriate clothing, a tent, sleeping bags, a water purifier, and other equipment for a multi-day trip.
Over 60 people are assisting in today’s search efforts.
Additional updates will be posted on the Teton County, Wyoming web site at http://www.tetonwyo.org.