The body of a 26-year-old hiker who went missing in Washington’s Olympic National Park was recovered nearly two weeks after he began a backcountry trip, officials said. The discovery came after searchers identified a critical new lead.
National Park Service officials said search teams found Neil Gehring on the northwest slope of Mount Appleton after obtaining and analyzing additional cellphone location data.
Search-and-rescue crews recovered Gehring’s body Sunday evening. It was transported to the Clallam County Coroner’s Office at approximately 8 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Neil Gehring, 26, began his trip from the Madison Falls Trailhead in Olympic National Park on Aug. 31 and was expected back the following day. When he did not return, he was reported overdue on Sept. 2. Search teams recovered his body on Sept. 13. (National Park Service)
Authorities have not disclosed details about the cellphone data or the circumstances surrounding Gehring’s death.
Gehring left the Madison Falls Trailhead on Aug. 31 for a planned overnight hike through the Olympic National Park backcountry.
According to his permit, he intended to travel cross-country from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass before returning to the trailhead on Sept. 1.
He was reported overdue at 6:30 a.m. the next morning, triggering an extensive search operation.
Searchers ultimately located Gehring after receiving and reviewing additional cellphone location information. The National Park Service did not immediately release further details about the data or identify a cause of death. (National Park Service)
For 10 days, crews searched from the ground and air along the route Gehring was expected to take. Drones and search dogs were also used in the effort.
After those efforts failed to find him, Olympic National Park officials announced on Sept. 11 that search teams would shift their approach. The focus turned to locating new clues that could help narrow the search area.
Investigators also urged anyone who had visited the area or knew anything about Gehring’s whereabouts to contact authorities.
Two days later, searchers located Gehring after analyzing the additional cellphone location data.
Officials said Gehring’s body was recovered from the northwest slope of Mount Appleton on Sept. 13. (NPS/Pablo McLoud)
Olympic National Park expressed its gratitude to the volunteer search-and-rescue teams that assisted with the operation.
The National Park Service said no additional information was available at this time.
