PORTLAND, Ore. -- Crews in the Columbia River Gorge resumed their search Wednesday morning for a hiker who has been missing for nearly six days.

Twenty-four-year-old Kate Huether sent a text message to a friend last Thursday before setting out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail near the Bonneville Dam. She has not been heard from since then.

Rescue crews on the ground and in the air have focused their search on a 12-mile perimeter. Huether's family traveled across the country Tuesday to help in the search.

"We're still holding out hope that Kate will come back to us alive and we'll be able to hold her, talk to her again and tell her how much we love her," said Robert Huether, Kate's father.

Huether's text message last Thursday indicated she would be home by 8 p.m. that night. She was reported missing to Portland police Saturday evening.

Skamania County deputies said there's no evidence that a crime is involved in Huether's disappearance. They believe she is simply lost.

Undersheriff Dave Cox said Tuesday's operation involved 40 ground searchers and two helicopters. Gillette Lake, an area of interest, was also searched by divers.

No Sign Of Huether Since Receipt

The only signs of Huether came when deputies found her car at the trailhead Friday and when searchers found a credit card receipt with her name on it Sunday.

The receipt was located near Table Mountain. Christine Dixson, a friend of Huether's, said the discovery came as a surprise because she didn't expect Huether to reach that area.

"She was going on a quick hike so I don't believe she would go as far as the receipt that was found that evening," Dixson said.

Mark Lambert, Huether's roommate, said Huether had a black backpack with her. He said Huether has done plenty of hiking in the past.

"She's got loads of pictures on her computer. She's really into the outdoors," Lambert said. "She applied for a Forest Service job. She's up there almost every weekend."

Lambert brought Huether's dog, a chocolate Lab-retriever mix, to help in the search. He said the dog slept on Huether's bed almost every night.

"She's been awesome," Lambert said. "She's been out with us the last two days hiking around with us. She went to the top of Table Mountain yesterday."

Flasher Reported In Area On Same Day As Hike

About three hours before Huether left the trailhead Thursday, a woman called authorities and reported a man exposing himself in the area.

The man hasn't been found, and Cox said there's nothing to link the man in question to Huether.

If, as deputies believe, Huether is lost in the wilderness, she has now spent her sixth night in the woods.

Hiker Now Missing For 6 Nights