Lost ... six cayoners are missing in the Blue Mountains. Photo: Nick Moir
A series of footprints found in sand have given search teams hope they will find six people missing in the Blue Mountains.
Almost eight hours after 50 emergency service personnel resumed the search for four adults and two teenagers missing since Tuesday night, police remain hopeful.
But they are not sure how many people left the imprints downstream of the Wollangambe One canyon dam exit near Mount Wilson.
‘‘A number of footprints would suggest a number of people,’’ Blue Mountains police Inspector Max Wallace said.
‘‘It’s highly suggestive that this could be our people.’’
Just 3.5 square kilometres of the original 20 square kilometres remains to be searched this afternoon, but Inspector Wallace said it was a difficult area.
‘‘The terrain is exceptionally rough although not particularly dangerous but it’s slow going.’’
The police helicopter managed to get off the ground briefly as part of the search efforts but was forced back after mist quickly set in.
Inspector Wallace said the group of six canyoners - two men, 25 and 27, two women, also 25 and 27, and two boys, aged 13 and 15 - were not carrying emergency beacons and he reminded bushwalkers that even experienced adventurers should carry them.
The six were all in good health at lunchtime on Tuesday when a fellow bushwalker spoke to them.
They set out through the Wollangambe One canyon at Mount
Wilson for a day trip about 7.30am on Tuesday.
They were expected to return on Tuesday afternoon, but worried relatives called police when the group was not back by 10.30pm.
Police said the missing
canyoners included siblings and some of their friends.
Blue Mountains Inspector Max Wallace said the six Sydneysiders spoke to a man in the canyon at lunchtime two days ago.
"At this stage we’ve certainly spoken to a witness who saw them on the day at about lunchtime," he said.
Some members of the group were experienced canyoners, and one of the hikers had been to the Wollangambe One canyon twice before, Detective Inspector Bostock said.
It is believed there is suitable drinking water in the canyon, he said.
Tom Tramby, a regular canyoner said it was possible the group had intended to travel the Wollangambe One route but changed their minds when they arrived at the starting point, which is also where several other more difficult routes begin.
No one in the group is known to have any health concerns that could pose a problem. They all had suitable clothing but only a day's food with them, Detective Inspector Bostock said.
Last night the apparent air temperature fell below 12 degrees.
Police found the group’s cars in a car park next to the Mount Wilson RFS building.
Canyoning involves exploring canyons on foot, by climbing, jumping, abseiling or scrambling up or down rock faces.
Mount Wilson is a popular canyoning spot.
- with Arjun Ramachandran, Georgina Robinson and AAP
