News

The search for a missing Blue Lake man is set to continue this morning, with organizers asking community members to meet at 11 a.m. at the Seascape Restaurant parking lot, where they will be assigned search areas.

Hunter Nathaniel Lewis is believed to have entered the ocean in his 15-feet green fiberglass canoe between 10 a.m. and noon Dec. 30 and hasn’t been seen since. His father posted to Facebook yesterday that half his son’s canoe had been found north of Elk Head, and today’s efforts are expected to focus on that area.

A multi-agency search for the 21-year-old launched Dec. 30 and crews worked through the night to locate him, but the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search efforts after sun down Dec. 31. The agency said it had methodically searched more than 1,000 nautical miles of water but had found “no sign of the man or his canoe or equipment.” It’s unclear if the discovery of Nathaniel Lewis’ canoe yesterday will prompt the Coast Guard or other agencies to re-engage.

An especially high tide is forecast to peak at 10:15 a.m. today, and gale force winds are possible later in the day, so searchers are urged to use extra caution around the water. According to a Facebook group set up to help coordinate the search, it looks like part of the focus of today’s search will be getting access to private properties along Stage Coach Road, north of Trinidad.

We’ll update this post with additional information as we can.