Searchers continued to scour Big Cottonwood Canyon Saturday for a man who has been missing for almost a week.
Jake Gradwohl, 28, a third-year resident at University Hospital, was reported missing by colleagues Tuesday after he didn't come to work for the second day in a row.Eight dogs and 20 officers searched areas Saturday that had been scoured as many as four times during the week.
Gradwohl's brother helped in the search and the missing man's parents came to Salt Lake City from Denver Thursday to watch the progress of the search.
But chances of finding the man alive are slim.
"It's a remote chance that he's survived this long," Capt. Mike Wilkinson said. "We hope to find him, but it's pretty discouraging at this point."
Authorities scaled down their efforts Saturday - sending home 15 search and rescue officers from Colorado and Idaho.
For the past six days, more than 50 searchers, three helicopters, 20 dogs, and one airplane have scoured the canyon.
Meanwhile, opening day of the Utah deer hunting season was a "mixed blessing" for Saturday searchers.
"On one hand, the hunt will put a lot of people into the area; maybe they can find something we couldn't," Wilkinson said.
He said having hunters with guns in the area, however, concerned him, "especially when we've got teams up there."
Gradwohl apparently parked his car Sunday morning near the Broads Fork and Mill B trail heads and went for a day hike.
Several hikers have told authorities they may have seen him in the area Sunday. They said he may be wearing only light clothing.
Wilkinson said teams have donated thousands of hours and flying time searching for Gradwohl - the largest search-and-rescue effort since last year's hunt for 10-year-old Joshua Dennis.