Missing hiker’s body found off trail in North Carolina mountains, officials say

The body of missing hiker Chad Seger has been located in “an off-trail area” at Shining Rock Wilderness Area, according to Haywood County Emergency Services.

Searchers found Seger, 27, at about 3 p.m. Tuesday. Hiking gear was located nearby and investigators believe it belonged to Seger, a release said.

“It is too early at this time to make a determination as to the cause of death,” the department said in a Facebook post.

More than 400 people from across the region helped in the eight-day search. Seger went missing while hiking in a rugged area near the Blue Ridge Parkway. He lived in nearby Asheville.

“Seger was last heard from on Monday, October 12, when he spoke briefly with a family member by telephone,” Haywood County officials said in a release. “Later that same evening an incomplete 911 call came into Haywood County Dispatch. It apparently could not be completed due to weak signal strength.”

Seger’s body was found near the Art Loeb Trail, officials said.

The trail is just over 30 miles and “is one of the longer and more difficult trails in the state, and it’s also one of the more popular,” according to online hiking guide HikeWNC. The trail is often used for extended backpacking trips of two to three days, the site says.

“Today over 400 personnel, countless agencies and several organizations had hand in finding my brother. I just want to thank Team 57 for being so vigilant and bringing my brother home,” Seger’s sister, Bethany Brody, posted on Facebook Tuesday.

“Chad, I love you so much. ... You will live in my heart, forever” she wrote.

Haywood County Emergency Services said the search for Seger included dogs, helicopters and teams from six N.C. counties. Search teams from Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee also joined the effort, the department said in a Facebook post.

This story was originally published October 21, 2020 at 7:13 AM.