The body of a 26-year-old hiker reported missing in Washington’s Olympic National Park has been recovered, nearly two weeks after he began a planned backcountry trek, officials said. A key development in the search helped crews locate him.
National Park Service officials said searchers found Neil Gehring on the northwest slope of Mount Appleton after obtaining and analyzing additional cellphone location data.
Search-and-rescue personnel recovered Gehring’s body Sunday evening. He was transported to the Clallam County Coroner’s Office at about 8 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Neil Gehring, 26, left the Madison Falls Trailhead in Olympic National Park on Aug. 31 for an overnight trip and was expected back Sept. 1. After he did not return, he was reported overdue on Sept. 2. Search teams recovered his body on Sept. 13. (National Park Service)
Authorities did not disclose further information about the cellphone data or the circumstances surrounding Gehring’s death.
Gehring began his trip from the Madison Falls Trailhead on Aug. 31, planning to spend one night in Olympic National Park’s backcountry.
His permit indicated he intended to travel cross-country from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass, then return to the trailhead by Sept. 1.
When Gehring did not return as planned, he was reported overdue at 6:30 a.m. the following morning, launching an immediate search operation.
Search crews found Gehring after receiving and reviewing additional cellphone location data. The National Park Service did not immediately release details about that data or identify a cause of death. (National Park Service)
Over the next 10 days, search teams combed his anticipated route by air and on the ground, deploying drones and dogs in the effort to find the missing Olympic National Park hiker.
By Sept. 11, the park announced it was changing tactics after the searches failed to locate Gehring. Teams would instead focus on finding new clues that could help narrow the search.
Investigators also asked anyone who had been in the area or had information about Gehring’s whereabouts to come forward.
Two days later, searchers found Gehring after receiving and analyzing the additional cellphone location data.
Gehring’s body was recovered from the northwest slope of Mount Appleton on Sept. 13, officials said. (NPS Pablo McLoud)
Olympic National Park thanked the search-and-rescue teams that volunteered to help with the effort.
NPS said no additional information was available at this time.