Search For Missing Hiker In San Mateo County Continues

PORTOLA VALLEY, CA — A 79-year-old woman went missing Thursday while hiking with her family in Portola Valley, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

Margaret “Elaine” McKinley, 79, of Redwood City, who has dementia, was separated from her family while hiking along the Lost Trail in the Windy Hill Preserve and was last seen around noon on Thursday. She was wearing a red jacket and black pants, police said.

At around 2 p.m. on Thursday, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District alerted the SMC Sheriff's Office that a hiker was missing and requested assistance in search and rescue.

More than 40 specialized search and rescue personnel scoured the area throughout Thursday evening and into early morning Friday, police said. An additional 70 search rescue personnel responded Friday to assist the search including volunteers from Marin, Alameda, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

SMC Sheriff's Office airplanes, drones, horses, bicycles and K-9s, including the new tracking bloodhound, have been deployed., police said

“We remain very hopeful that we will locate Elaine so she can be reunited with her loved ones. We extend our appreciation to the many specially trained volunteers who have answered the call to assist with the search,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus.

Anyone with sighting of information is asked to call 9-1-1.

Residents should expect to see an increase in law enforcement presence in the areas. Police advise visitors to please avoid the Windy Hill parking lot.

California Highway Patrol has issued a silver alert, which is activated when an elderly, developmentally or cognitively-impaired person has gone missing and is determined to be at-risk.

The SMC Sheriff's Office will provide updates as new information becomes available.

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