Search continues for two Cincinnati-area children lost in Red River Gorge

Search teams had not yet found any clues that might lead them to the boys, the trooper said.

Authorities say two young cousins missing for almost a day have been found alive in the rugged Red River Gorge area of Kentucky. Chris Ward said. “I have two boys at home we were just up here three weeks ago hiking the Gorge with my Boy Scout troop so kinda familiar with the area”.

Cousins Michael Esposito, 5, from Cincinnati and Adrian Ross, 7, from Bloomington, Indiana went missing around 6 p.m.in the woods near their Koomer Ridge campsite, according to their aunt, Linda Palacios.

The boys came away from the adventure with only a few bumps and scrapes, the trooper said.

The area around the campsite is described as extremely treacherous.

Julia Esposito said her father has taken his children and grandchildren to the campsite many times in the past. The boys gobbled cookies and jerky and guzzled water offered by rescuers. Searchers were using dogs to try to track the boys. A helicopter flew over the area Thursday evening as part of the search. Friday, somebody found them.

The Red River Gorge is a heavily wooded, rocky destination popular with hikers, campers and rock climbers.