More than a week after two Coeur d'Alene men went missing in the rugged Salmon River canyon area, they still hadn't been found by Wednesday.

Neighbors Patrick Lusk, 27, and Jason Gritten, 35, went to that area east of Riggins to hunt for bear, but were reported missing on May 17. Their camp and trailer were located, and a canoe was found upside down in the swift river.

"We're still assuming that they drowned," said Idaho County Sheriff Doug Giddings.

Giddings said a cadaver dog had a possible "hit" while searching along the river on Friday, but he said the river remains too dangerous for divers to search in the water.

"Nobody is going to dive," he said. "You can't see in the water because it's so muddy and it's just too cold and too swift, so it's a waiting game until someone surfaces. We believe they're in the river."

Giddings said some acquaintances of the two have been in that area again this week in hopes of finding them. The sheriff's office suspended its search after three days.

The missing men went to the French Creek area of the river system. Two sets of tracks between hot springs and the river were found a day after they were reported missing. Investigators believe the two left the hot springs and got back in their canoe to head downstream.

Giddings said the two reportedly did not have life jackets on, but he doesn't know that for sure because there were no witnesses.

Both men have been described as avid outdoorsmen by those who know them.

Lusk, who is married to Megan, works at Ground Force Worldwide in Post Falls. Gritten moved to North Idaho from the Seattle area about two years ago and owns a marketing firm.