Friends of the Bardsley family said they have received more help than they ever expected. According to estimates, at least 800 volunteers were fed Saturday night and possibly 1,000 searchers had hit the trail throughout the day.

Many volunteers arrived at the base camp not even knowing the Bardsleys. Garrett was reported missing Aug. 20 after leaving his father to return to camp to change his shoes and socks. The camp was about 150 yards away — but he never returned to where his father was waiting for him.

A search began shortly after his disappearance, involving 20 other adults and boys who were on the three-day Boy Scout trip with him.

Hopes that Garrett might still be alive fell after he was gone four days, when temperatures dropped drastically and rain and hail fell.

Police say they think Garrett might have climbed into a cave or covered himself with branches to keep himself warm, which blocked him from infrared and heat-seeking sensors used in the search, and died of hypothermia.

Countless footprints line the trails. They have searched nooks and crannies, desperately seeking clues to his whereabouts.

"There's a lot of search and rescue people that are going to have a hard time leaving," Kevin Bardsley said. "They come and tell me we're not leaving until we find him. Their hearts are there. They're great people."

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E-mail: achoate@desnews.com