PORTLAND, Ore. -- Thursday, a father returned to the trail where his daughter disappeared one week ago.
The official search for Kate Huether ended Wednesday but Bob Huether said he plans to keep looking for his daughter. He said won't rest until he brings her home.
"This is my daughter," Huether said. "I'll do whatever I have to do until I'm convinced I can't do any more."
The 24-year-old PSU student disappeared last Thursday, after going for a hike near the Bonneville Dam. For days, search and rescue crews combed the "Table Mountain" area, searching from the ground, horseback and air. But with no new clues yesterday afternoon, the search was called off.
Katie Huether vanished somewhere in the Skamania wilderness.
"It's difficult to think about what Kate might be going through," he said. "But at the same time, that difficulty kinda moves you forward to say let's keep going."
The doting dad was in anguish but he said he'll stop at nothing to find his little girl. So one step at a time, Huether, and a few friends took to the trails on their own looking, and listening for any sign of Katie.
"We're optimistic," Huether said.
"The folks have really scoured the hillside up there and we just cant find her," said Skamania County Undersheriff Dave Cox on Wednesday. Huether, who flew in from Pennsylvania, prays for something to report back to his family.
"The worst thing is no news to tell," he said. Huether said he's simply not ready to leave the rainy cold wilderness without his daughter. Or at the very least, without answers.
"I'm hopeful because I know Kate and I trust her and love her," Huether said. "We're continuing to do whatever we have to. If it's a miracle, then we're hoping for a miracle."
