As the search is on for the missing Lubavitch bochur in Vermont, friends of his at the Pioneers camp are optimistic about his well-being.
The Pioneers program is for 13-15-year-old boys who already have the experience necessary to survive in the wilderness. Each camper is prepared, trained, tested, and equipped in advance, in case they find themselves in a difficult situation.
During the first week of camp, the boys go through tests to make sure that they have the advanced skills necessary such as fire building, advanced shelter building, survival rescue, climbing, fishing (brook, river, and pond/lake), trapping and more.
Each boy is equipped with water, food, a sleeping bag, and other gear. The boys say that they are “very hopeful that Shmuel has what he needs to survive”, and that “he will be found very soon safe and sound”.
Everyone is encouraged to continue saying Tehillim for Shmuel ben Chasha.
Meanwhile, the Vermont State Police released the following statement:
“The Vermont State Police is searching for a missing hiker who was last seen Wednesday evening with a large group of friends on the Appalachian Trail near the Cooper Lodge in Killington. The hiker is identified as Shmuel Rabinowitz, 15, of Montreal. The last contact with him was at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2019.
“Shmuel is described as standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with blue eyes and dirty blond hair. He was last seen wearing a lime green shirt, tan pants, a black baseball cap, and a blue backpack.
“Search crews have been working along hiking trails and any corridors near the last point of contact. Agencies involved in the search effort include the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team, Killington Search and Rescue, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, U.S. Forest Service, Green Mountain Club, and the Vermont National Guard.
“Anyone with information about Shmuel’s whereabouts or who may have seen an individual matching his description is asked to contact the Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks at 802-773-9101.”
