After three days of an all-out effort and 24 hours of intensive mountain work by hundreds, the search for a missing Tamaqua man ended at 5:30 p.m. Saturday without finding a trace.

As of right now, the search for Jesse Farber, 29, of Tamaqua, has concluded after more than 50 hikers and ATV riders spent 8 hours scouring heavily-wooded peaks and valleys of seemingly-endless Sharp Mountain for the third day.

"There's nothing more scheduled," said Tom Hartz, Tamaqua fire chief, as he packed up equipment from a base camp not far from Tamaqua Area High School.

The search for the father of two, missing since Tuesday, saw many specialized units converge on the mountain that stretches from Tamaqua borough to Walker Township.

Among those taking part in searches since Wednesday were Tamaqua police, fire department volunteers, fire police, a Pennsylania State Police helicopter, a Pennsylvania National Guard military helicopter, Northeast Search and Rescue of Monroe County, and the eastern state chapter of Pennsylvania Wilderness Search and Rescue, or PaWSAR. In addition, dozens of ATVs, most privately owned, were deployed due to rugged terrain with paths far too narrow, steep and rocky for normal-sized vehicles.

The end to the official search, however, doesn't mean activity on the mountain will cease.

Rescuers with specialized equipment might return to further examine a deep hole.

According to searchers, a response team from the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection lowered a camera into one of the mine voids that dot the mountain.

"It went down 175 feet or almost 200 feet and the lens broke," said Hartz.

The site is receiving extra scrutiny because of potential clues spotted around the opening.

"The ground was disturbed as if someone could have slipped," he said.

It's unclear if the hole is an abandoned mine shaft or a deep subsidence. One volunteer seacher who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the hole possibly could reach a depth of 500 feet at which point there's an undetermined depth of water.

Searcher Christine Ciardelli of Northeast Search and Rescue K 9 Division confirmed that search dogs were useful at that site and others.

"The dogs did pick up several scents of interest," she said.

Deb Sardone of Pennsylvania Wilderness Search and Rescue said her group's involvment has ended for now.

"But we'll be back if they call us."

Family members have searched for Farber, who also goes by the name Jesse Rex, since Wednesday. The official search kicked in Thursday, running from noon until 8:30 p.m. Another eight-hour search was conducted Friday, followed up by Saturday's eight-hour operation.

For additional details and photos about the search of Sharp Mountain, see Monday's Times News.