Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Search For Hiker Comes To Successful Conclusion

A search for an overdue hiker ended on a positive note on Wednesday when he hiked out after spending an unplanned night in the backcountry.

The hiker, a 68-year-old man from Everett, Washington, set out on a day hike in the Kautz area on Tuesday. He was reported overdue by his wife late Tuesday when he failed to return home as planned.

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputies attempting to locate him late Tuesday evening confirmed that his vehicle was at the Kautz Creek trailhead, but were unable to find him. A search by a park hasty team the following morning was also unsuccessful.

The park’s incident overhead team was calling in more resources to ramp up the search when the hiker returned to the trailhead on his own accord. While hiking off-trail, he was overtaken by darkness, so he stopped hiking and bundled up in extra clothes and garbage bags to stay warm through the night. He was able to relocate the trail on Wednesday morning and returned to the trailhead.

Love it when a plan comes together!

yup - did everything right. he HAD extra warm clothes and plastic garbage bags. a few big rubber bands or duct tape would also be good for a situation like this.

Pete

Prior planning prevents p*ss poor performance. Good for him.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I went hiking with my brother on some local trails. When we set out it was beautiful out, but as the sun started to go down on the way back the temperature dropped a good 15*F and the wind picked up.

I, of course, had packed some gloves, a hat, and a second set of nice dry socks in my day pack just in case. My brother didn't, instead deciding to travel light since we were local and we both know the trails by heart.

Well, Guess who had a more enjoyable hike back?


Glad to see this hiker was properly prepared, both with gear and knowledge.

Proper prior planning would have been ;
1. Determining local sunset.
2. Carrying a watch.
3. Leaving long before it got dark.

Getting out of a SITUATION is good. Not getting into it in the first place is better.