Three sisters found safe in Wyoming

By: CBS58 Staff

Posted: Jul 9, 2015 1:49 PM CDT | Updated: Jul 9, 2015 8:03 PM CDT

Teton County Sheriff's Office is confirming the three missing sisters with ties to Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin have been found.

At 10:00 AM a helicopter spotted three individuals matching the description of Megan, Erin, and Kelsi Andrews-Sharer near the top of the divide between Horse Creek and Little Horse Creek in the Gros Ventre Wilderness, according to the Teton County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page.

The helicopter landed and confirmed it was them.

\"They're tired, cold, hungry, but otherwise healthy and happy to be on their way out,\" said the Teton County Sheriff's Facebook Page.

Their location was approximately 7 miles west of the trailhead where their car was found yesterday.

\"They did all the right things,\" their father shared after hearing the news. \"They hung out in one spot. They stayed close together. They didn't do anything you wouldn't want skilled hikers to do.\"

On July 8, a permitted guide with Horse Creek Outfitters noted a person wearing a white rain jacket in an area with no trails. He phoned the information in to the Teton County Sheriff’s Office this morning when he became aware there was a search in progress. His accurate description of their location proved critical. The incident management team immediately redirected the helicopter to the coordinates the guide provided, and the girls were located within 20 minutes.

Their experience and planning allowed them to be prepared for their unexpected situation.

By staying together, using their tent, and having proper clothing, they were able to wait out the event without further incident.

The girls were flown to the Swift Creek trailhead and reunited with their father.

“We’re so pleased with the outcome of this search and the safety of the missing hikers and all the rescue personnel,” said Sheriff Jim Whalen, Incident Commander for the Search and Rescue event.

Responders from Teton and Sublette Counties, multiple federal agencies, and volunteers were involved in the search. Close to 100 people assisted in today’s search efforts

They left for their trip on June 28 to Wyoming and were supposed to be home already.

Megan Andrews-Sharer,25, lives in Whitefish Bay. She and her two sisters were hiking in Grand Teton National Park.

The sheriff's office said they had camping gear with them.

On Wednesday night members of the United Methodist Church in Whitefish Bay held a prayer service for the sisters safe return.

The family attended the church before moving away years ago and Megan came back after college to take a job with the congregation.

\"Megan has incredibly strong faith,\" Senior Pastor Susan Patterson-Sumwalt told CBS 58 News. \"She's a wonderful problem solver and loves the outdoors. She's very disciplined. She loves people. She's committed to a sustainable lifestyle.\"

Megan left her job at the church in June to travel around and work at organic farms.

The SUV the girls had been using with Wisconsin license plates had been found.