The search for a hiker thought missing near Split Mountain (above) is being scaled back/Jonathan Fox via Wikipedia

After 10 days of searching for a hiker thought to be missing in either Kings Canyon National Park or the adjacent Inyo National Forest in California, authorities said Thursday they would scale back the effort.

Missing is 66-year-old Quang Trong Than of Newport Beach, California, according to a release from Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. While searching will continue, the large number of resources and personnel that have been dedicated to this effort will be reduced, the release added. The search will remain in limited continuous mode until Than is found. 

Than was last seen on August 21 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. near the peak of Split Mountain, on the Sierra Nevada Crest, close to the boundary between the national park and the national forest. Than became separated from his group at the base of the summit. His intended plan was to day hike to the summit of Split Mountain and exit the same day via Inyo National Forest. He was not carrying overnight gear.  

Searchers have utilized a broad range of search techniques, including ground search and rescue, aerial searches via helicopter and unmanned aerial systems, infrared flights, canine search teams, trail containment, and investigations. Despite these efforts, Than’s whereabouts remain unknown. Than’s itinerary was an extremely challenging one and few other hikers were in the area.  

Simultaneous searches have been led by Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks and the Inyo County Sheriffs Department, with the assistance of Inyo National Forest, Inyo County Search and Rescue, California National Guard, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, the Airforce Rescue Coordination Center, Tulare County and Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments, Yosemite, Death Valley, and Pinnacles National Parks, Civil Air Patrol, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Management, and California Highway Patrol Inland Division Air Ops. 

Than was described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, Asian, 145 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a red backpack, blue hiking shirt, and gray hat. Anyone who was in the area where he was last seen on or around August 21 is urged to contact NPS Investigative Services at 888-653-0009 or [email protected].