Kristy Thornbrew hasn't been seen since leaving for a hike Monday morning.
/ Facebook picture
BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC -- Rescue crews are searching for Kristy Thornbrew, 29, of Florence, in Buncombe County, North Carolina after she went missing during a hike.
Chief Bruce Cook with the Broad River Fire Department in Black Mountain, NC says Thornbrew went for a hike around 6:30 Monday morning to watch the sunrise.
Cook says she called friends around 9am that morning to say she was on her way back.
We're told Thornbrew was in Black Mountain visiting friends.
Her friends called emergency authorities around noon to say she hadn't made it back and they were concerned.
Around 2 p.m. Monday, about 30 searchers went out to look for Thornbrew.
Chief Cook says they're canvassing a three mile area near Shurmont Road, which is located on the far southeast corner of Buncombe County.
Buncombe County is east of the city of Asheville, NC.
Cook says the area they're searching is very mountainous and rugged terrain.
He says at this point, they don't want to speculate as to what may have happened to Thornbrew.
Cook says the search will continue throughout the day. If the weather turns bad, they may have to call off the search and resume Wednesday morning.
He says Thornbrew's mother and her boyfriend have traveled to Black Mountain and are at the command post waiting for more information.
We'll continue to follow this story and bring you developments as we get them.
