About 30 people are involved in a search for Derek Leuking, 24, of Louisville, Tennessee, who has been missing since last Thursday. Leuking’s car was found on Saturday morning at the Newfound Gap parking area in the middle of the park. On Saturday and Sunday, rangers hiked over 40 miles of trails that radiate out from Newfound Gap, looking for signs of Leuking and interviewing hikers they encountered to see if anybody had met him, but without success. Search managers now believe that he’s off-trail if he is still in the park. Three search dog teams combed the woods yesterday along the Appalachian Trail and along an old, abandoned section of U.S. 441 that leaves the parking lot southbound. A Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter has been assigned to search the area from the air. Searchers from Blue Ridge Parkway have joined Great Smokies staff in the effort. Cherokee Tribal EMS has a unit on scene, and three dog teams – two from the North Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association and the third from the South Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association – are also supporting the operation. Rangers have also considered that Leuking may have left the park and are asking anybody who may have seen him since Saturday to contact the park at (865) 436-1230.
_Turtle Wallking_Search for missing hiker in Smokies
system
#1
system
#2
I did a trail run out of Clingman's Dome Saturday and the Rangers asked me if I saw him. Hopefully he turns up unharmed.
_gg-man_
system
#3
I received this notice on my Guest Sign-in log yesterday. ***Please Read***Missing persons***Derek Lueking*** I live in Knoxville, TN. There is a college student from this area where I used to go who went missing on 3.14 (Wed). He bought a bunch of gear, left it in his car at Newfound Gap (big parking lot in the Smokies ½ way point) and a note saying don’t come looking for me. He is white, Apx 6’+ tall, 175+lbs, hair buzzed, receading, dark. Most likely has no identification on him, no gear, and not in shape for even a day hike. His family and friends are looking for him as well as the National Park Rangers. Please call the rangers at 865-436-1230 if you have ANY information.
_Canoeman_
system
#4
There is a Find Derek Leuking page at Facebook. Three hours ago, the family released a press statement to clear up rumors. He did not leave his gear in his car. He bought at least $1000 in gear and took it with him, and apparently five bags worth of food from a WalMart. Does not sound like the suicide case that the original info led many of us to believe. However, it has been 17 days now since he was seen. Check out Facebook for the complete press release.
_Clark Coleman_