Do I have the sequence right?
1. Mother and daughter park at Clingmans Dome and hike down the Forney Ridge trail to Andrews Bald (~1.8 mi.).
2. Mother and daughter begin return to the parking lot and, after ~1/4 mile (~1.5 miles from parking lot), daughter hikes ahead to visit the viewing tower.
3. Upon visiting the viewing tower and returning to the parking lot, Mother is not at their car as expected.
Busy, well-maintained trail, headed in the right direction when they separated, minimal chance to take a wrong turn . . .
I don't know how you could make an error at the Forney Creek trail junction.
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I don't have a photo of the Clingmans Dome access trail junction with the Forney Ridge trail, but if she missed it, she would have intersected the Appalachian Trail in short order:
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While it may be difficult to remain optimistic after almost a week, I hope they find her alive.