Smokies Rangers search for overdue backpacker
From staff reportsOriginally published: August 28. 2009 11:03AM
Last modified: August 28. 2009 11:03AM
Rangers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are searching a network of Park trails for a Pigeon Forge man who is overdue from a backpacking trip.
The subject of the search is Albert “Morgan” Briggs, 70, of 1008 Trotter Way in Pigeon Forge.
Briggs set out on Saturday, Aug. 22, when he was dropped off by family members at Porters Creek Trailhead in the Greenbrier area just east of Gatlinburg. He filed a trip plan and got the needed permits to hike the Porters Creek Trail to Campsite #31 and spend Saturday night there, and then hike off the established trail system up Dry Sluice man way to the Appalachian Trail (AT). He would then go south on the AT to spend Sunday night at the Icewater Springs shelter. From there he expected to continue on the AT a short distance then hike the Boulevard Trail to Mt. LeConte where he would spend Monday night at the Mt. LeConte shelter. He was expected to hike out to Newfound Gap on Alum Cave Trail on Tuesday then hitch-hike back to Pigeon Forge, but has not been heard from since.
On Wednesday, rangers and volunteers hiked all of the trails on that itinerary looking for signs of Briggs and interviewing other hikers who may have encountered him.
They have contacted a hiking party who believe they saw Briggs at Campsite #31 on Saturday, but have had no further reports of sightings since that time. His name does not appear on the shelter logs at either Ice Water Springs or Mt. LeConte Shelters.
Since Wednesday searchers have been focusing on the off-trail segment of Briggs’ planned itinerary. Today five teams of two Park searchers are hiking up several other possible cross-country routes that Briggs may have taken.
Morgan Briggs is a white male, 70 years old, 5 foot, eight inches tall, 180 pounds, with balding white hair, no mustache, blue eyes and often wears glasses. He was reportedly wearing brown Danner hiking boots (vibram sole), a green two-piece rain suit, and blue jeans or khaki slacks.
Briggs is a very familiar with the Park’s backcountry and was one of the Park’s first Appalachian Trail Ridge Runners. Ridge Runners spend several months on the 71 miles of AT in the Park, providing information, performing trail maintenance and serving as the Park’s eyes on the Trail.
The Park is asking anybody who may have seen Briggs since Saturday morning to call (865) 436-1230.
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