Crews search for missing backpacker in Joshua Tree National Park

Authorities are searching for a 25-year-old hiker who was reported missing Friday after backpacking alone through Joshua Tree National Park.

Trammell Evans was supposed to be picked up at 11 a.m. Friday at Black Rock Campground in the northwest corner of the park after a five-night backpacking trip. When he did not show up, he was reported missing that afternoon, according to the National Park Service.

Evans, who was described as an experienced long-distance hiker, was last seen about 8 p.m. April 30, when he was dropped off at the campground with plans to hike to Geology Tour Road and back on the California Riding and Hiking Trail, park officials said — a round trip of more than 30 miles.

Evans is 6 foot 3, 190 pounds with brownish-red hair, brown eyes and facial hair. He was last seen wearing a silver, white and gray hoodie, a black Patagonia puffy vest, blue shorts, blue Asics shoes and a black REI backpack with an egg-crate-style sleeping pad, according to the search effort.

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The Joshua Tree Search and Rescue team began searching for Evans on Friday with support from the Bureau of Land Management and the California Highway Patrol, including from a helicopter, park officials said.

Officials asked that people do not head to the high desert on their own to join the search or fly drones to look for Evans, which they said could impede aerial search operations.

Evans was familiar with Joshua Tree National Park but had not registered for a backcountry permit for the trip, park officials said. Rangers have contacted all 55 people who had backcountry permits around the location and time Evans was out hiking.

Evans’ last known place of residence was Los Angeles, but he moves frequently, officials said.

Anyone with information can call or text the park service tip line at (888) 653-0009.