dpMissing hiker found dead in national park
Published 3:55 pm Wednesday, September 16, 2026
PORT ANGELES — A man who was reported missing in Olympic National Park earlier this month was found dead this past weekend.
Neil Gehring, 26, was due to return to Madison Falls on
Sept. 1. He was reported overdue at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 2.
Gehring’s body was found Sunday evening on the northwest slope of Mount Appleton,
according to a news release from Olympic National Park.
“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 on Sunday night.
“Olympic National Park is grateful for all the dedicated search and rescue teams that volunteered to assist with this effort,” the statement said.
Gehring left the Madison Falls Trailhead on Aug. 31 for an overnight backpacking trip, the park previously said. He intended to make a cross-country traverse from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team responded to the State Emergency Operations Center when it sent out a request for help to all search and rescue organizations, Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy said.
Clallam County Search and Rescue assisted with the search from Sept. 4-7 with various volunteers, Bundy said.
The search included the use of helicopters, drones and K9s, she said.
The names of other agencies that assisted in the search have not been released.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at [email protected].
