PORT ANGELES — A 26-year-old hiker reported missing earlier this month in Olympic National Park was found dead Sunday, according to park officials.
Missing Backpacker Located on Mount Appleton
Neil Gehring was due to return to Madison Falls on September 1 after an overnight backpacking trip. He was reported overdue at 6:30 a.m. on September 2. His body was discovered Sunday evening on the northwest slope of Mount Appleton, the park confirmed in a news release.
Searchers located Gehring after receiving and analyzing additional cellphone location data,
the release stated.
Gehring’s body was transferred to the Clallam County Coroner’s Office Sunday night.
Multi-Agency Search Effort
Gehring left the Madison Falls Trailhead on August 31, planning a cross-country traverse from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass. When he failed to return, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team responded to a State Emergency Operations Center request for assistance sent to all search and rescue organizations, Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy said.
Clallam County Search and Rescue participated in the search from September 4 through September 7 with various volunteers. The operation deployed helicopters, drones, and K9 units, Bundy confirmed.
Olympic National Park is grateful for all the dedicated search and rescue teams that volunteered to assist with this effort,
the statement said.
The names of other agencies that assisted in the search have not been released.
