Search for missing hiker Hosch makes seasonal shift

“If someone finds anything credible, Union County will immediately follow up to determine validity and search the area,” said Charles’ daughter Julia Hosch, explaining the new phase. “However, there will not be ongoing searches as there have been to date.”

The announcement comes on the heels of the latest expedition to find Hosch, who was last seen descending from the trail shelter at the top of Blood Mountain, presumably on his way back to his car parked at the Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead off the Gainesville Highway.

Search efforts to date have included an initial all-hands-on-deck approach from Union County Emergency Management Agency, which coordinated a massive two-week search featuring hundreds of professionals at every level of first response and government.

At the conclusion of the formal search, which shifted most assistance from emergency services to a clue-dependent mode, the family continued looking for their beloved husband, father, grandfather and more with the help of volunteer search teams.

A trying four months after Hosch went missing, independent efforts culminated in the coordination of one last “large-scale professional search operation” before pausing the regular searches for spring. That search spanned Thursday, March 12, through Sunday, March 15.

According to https://www.bringcharleshome.com/, “From Thursday to Sunday, search experts from across the Southeast executed a carefully planned, multi-agency search weekend.”

“Knox County Search and Rescue, Morgan County Search and Rescue, BUSAR, individual members of Christian Aid Ministry, and K-9 teams led by Dr. Tracy ‘Trace’ Sargent and Allan and Karen Padgett deployed across Blood Mountain in a collective effort,” the website continues. “The professionalism, determination, and heart these teams bring to this mountain – again and again – moves us beyond words.”

The large operation helped to eliminate search areas but yielded no new clues, such as items belonging to Hosch that could have revealed his whereabouts or what might have happened to him.

Importantly, the family remains hopeful, despite not reaching “the outcome we hoped for” with the latest search, and the Hosches are incredibly thankful “to those who joined us on the mountain” this month.

“We have come to understand that the search and rescue teams combing this mountain are not only searching for Charles,” the family said. “They are searching for us, too – to give us something to hold onto, whatever form that may take. We are grateful for that gift in ways we cannot fully articulate.”

Family members have pledged to “press on,” advising people to monitor the website for updates on the mission to #BringCharlesHome. In the meantime, Julia told the North Georgia News there are several things that people can do even as planned searches remain on hold.

“The most important thing for readers to know is that hikers, especially thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail this summer, could be some of our family’s biggest helpers, simply by keeping an eye out for abnormal pieces of equipment or clothing in the woods,” Julia said.

“Specifically, please keep on the lookout for the green Barbour jacket he wore, brown shoes that don’t look like normal hiking shoes – Mephistos with orthotics – or leftover Leki hiking poles,” she continued.

“But most importantly, we’d love your readers to continue to remember to be kind to each other while hiking and enjoying the outdoors,” Julia added. “Notice the people around you hiking, and talk to them and offer help if needed.

“We know the facts that we have about Dad’s hike due to kind people who spoke to him and came forward; this kind of attention to one another can save lives. Also, we want to remind all hikers to please dress in bright colors and invest in non-WiFi GPS devices; these, too, can save lives.

“In this beautiful Georgia spring and summer, we encourage everyone to enjoy the mountains, but to please hike safely.”