Missing hiker’s family offering reward

CARRABASSETT VALLEY – The family of a missing Appalachian Trail hiker who was last seen on July 21 is offering a reward.

On Tuesday, George Largay, missing hiker Geraldine Largay’s husband, and his family, are offering a reward of $15,000 for information leading to the location of Geraldine Largay last seen hiking on the Appalachian Trail in Franklin County.

Geraldine “Gerry” Largay, 66, of Brentwood, Tenn. is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 115 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. Her trail name is “inchworm” and she was last seen wearing a reddish colored pullover shirt, tan shorts, a blue hat, and a black and green backpack. Largay is considered an experienced hiker who was prepared with supplies. She had no previous incidents during her hike leading up to her disappearance.

Largay started her hike on the AT on April 23 at Harpers Ferry, W.V. Her destination was Baxter State Park in Maine. Her husband George kept track of her along the way and made frequent pre-determined stops to resupply her. On Sunday morning, July 21, she departed from her husband at the Route 4 AT crossing in Sandy River Plantation near the town of Rangeley. Later that day she texted her husband and advised she was on top of Saddleback Mountain.

Her plan was to stay at the Poplar Ridge lean-to in Redington TWP Sunday night. Investigators have confirmed from hiker interviews that Geraldine did stay the night at Poplar Ridge lean-to on the night of Sunday, July 21. On Monday morning she text messaged her husband George and indicated she was again headed north on the AT. Her next stop would have been the Spaulding Mountain lean-to. Geraldine’s plan was to meet her husband on Tuesday, July 23 in Wyman Township at the Route 27 intersection with the AT. Largay never arrived at that location.

The Maine Warden Service was notified of Gerry’s disappearance on Wednesday July 24, 2013 and started searches and investigation that day. The search continued to grow with search resources, such as K-9s, ground search teams, helicopter, fixed wing aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, and horses utilized during the search. Several of the search days had over 100 searchers looking for clues as to Largay’s location. Since the search was scaled back after Aug. 4, local search groups, K-9’s and wardens have conducted six more ground searches for her. No clues such as clothing, hiker accessories, or backpacking equipment that can be attributed as coming from Gerry have been located from any ground search since it started.

The next phase of the search will be to wait for leaves to fall and have aircraft fly in areas where visibility is good and have not been searched.

Both the Maine Warden Service and the Largay family seek any information from hikers or others who have specific information related to Geraldine Largay and her journey on the AT, especially information related to the dates between Sunday, July 21 and Tuesday July 23. Information will remain confidential. Those with any information are asked to call Maine Warden Service dispatch center at 207-624-7076 or leave information on our website http://www.maine.gov/ifw/aboutus/auto_forms/contact_us.htm

Here is a link to video of George Largay discussing the reward for Geraldine:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wgxz59e5taycos2/6GecdgGRDc