Kristen Nadel, 18, is not giving up hope that her father, Melvin Nadel, will be found. Mel Nadel, 61, disappeared Sept. 6 while he was on a hunting trip in the Pecos Wilderness. State police called off the search for him on Sept. 12, but Kristen Nadel won't stop looking.

"There is no real proof that he's gone," Kristen Nadel said. "(There's) no real proof that he's there. Until there is proof, I'm staying positive."

There was no trace of Nadel anywhere. According to a Sept. 25 story in The New Mexican, Mel Nadel's belongings were found in his Jeep and there were no reports of health problems or drinking.

Kristen Nadel, who attends Santa Fe Community College, has had anything but a normal upbringing. She was home-schooled by her father and got her GED at 16. At 18, Kristen only has one semester at SFCC left until she receives her associate degree in general studies — in which her focuses are psychology and English.

Kristen is also a certified fitness instructor and according to The New Mexican, she is entertaining the idea of teaching classes at Mel Nadel's Pilates business. Kristen Nadel also is taking ballet at the National Dance Institute of New Mexico.

Her mother is from the Philippines and her father is from New York.

"Since I come from two cultures, I've been exposed to a lot of things growing up," Kristen Nadel said.

After the search was called off, the Nadel family did not give up. In fact, Kristen Nadel is staying positive by maintaining a Web site, http://findmel.webs.com/, to spread awareness about her family's situation and keep friends updated.

"One person said I'm the spokesperson for the family, and that's how I feel," said Kristen Nadel, who has given numerous radio, newspaper and television interviews.

Her support group is her friends and three women who took her father's Pilates classes.

"It's definitely a community effort at this point," Kristen Nadel said.

If anyone is interested in helping search for Mel Nadel, Kristen Nadel said that they are more than welcome and to check the Web site for updates. She added that she knows it's unconventional but "We have to do whatever we can."

"I've always been closer to my dad, he's always understood me," Kristen Nadel said as she looked out the window and watched the rain. She got her first two tattoos with him and said that he was "supportive of everything" she did.

"When I say we're not giving up," Kristen Nadel said, "we're not giving up."



Leigh Mahlum is a senior at Santa Fe High School. You can reach her at Leighmahlum@aol.com.