Searchers Hold Out Hope For Missing Hiker

A 65-year-old Georgia man who went on a solo hike in Joshua Tree National Park a week ago remained missing today, as search and rescue teams combed through rugged terrain in the center of the park.

William Michael Ewasko of the Atlanta suburb of Marietta was believed to be in the Quail Mountain area, west of Keys View Road, where his rented vehicle was found on Saturday, according Riverside County sheriff’s Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela.

Between 20 to 30 people searched the area around Quail Mountain today, Joe Zarki of the National Park Service said, adding that a canine team was expected to join the search this afternoon.

“They want to go back … and hit some areas more intensely,” Zarki said.

Ewasko went hiking along last Thursday, and his girlfriend reported him missing Friday, Valenzuela said.

Initially, search-and-rescue teams focused on the Hayfield Lake area, but shifted to the Quail Mountain area after Ewasko’s rented Chrysler Sebring was found.

The Lost Horse Valley area, east of Keys View Road, was searched on Monday, Zarki said.

On Tuesday, the search refocused on Quail Mountain in the center of the park, where it has remained.

Ewasko was believed to be in a cooler section of the park, where the higher elevations provide some relief from the summer heat.

Ewasko is white, about 5 feet 10 inches and 165 pounds, with gray hair.

Anyone with more information as to Ewasko’s whereabouts was asked to call sheriff’s Investigator Mario Martinez at (760) 836-1676.