A group of hikers from the Lehigh Valley will fly to California today join in the search for a high school teacher who has been missing for three weeks.
Matthew Greene, 39, arrived in Mammoth Lakes on June 27 and the last time anyone heard from him was on July 16.
Greene, a math teacher with the Nazareth Area School District, is described by his family as an avid hiker, rock and ice climber.
Mammoth Lakes Police say Greene was staying at the Shady Rest Campground while his car was being repaired. His car was never picked up and he never returned to the campground, police say.
Many of his fellow teachers are leaving candles lit in their windows until he comes home and some friends are taking the 2,700-mile trip to join in the search for him.
Adam and Andrea Faller are a part of the group hoping to find the beloved teacher.
"We have some idea of where he might be, where he might have gone,” said Adam Faller.
Greene’s sister, Tiffany Minto, says the last few weeks have been agonizing not knowing where he is or what may have happened to him.
“My heart's really confused right now. It's telling me I should be hopeful…that if anyone can survive it, it would be Matt. So much time has gone by that it's hard to be hopeful."
Search efforts by experienced mountain rescue teams have turned up nothing.
Officials say the last phone call they've been able to trace to Greene's cell phone was from July 16 at 4:35 PST.
Mammoth Lakes is about a two hour drive from Yosemite National Park.
Detective Hornbeck says the community is a very safe area in terms of crime. He believes Matthew may have have gotten a ride from someone to a remote hiking area and hopes as word spreads, more tips will come in.
Minto says she is grateful for the support from her brother’s friends.
“To be honest, they're kind of like my last string of hope. And it kind of brings me a peace of mind knowing that at least they gave it their best and the best went out there looking for him,” said Minto
The family is using social media to help spread the word about his disappearance, and is posting updates on the Find Matthew Greene Facebook page.
Photo Credit: NBC10.com