Something's Up... Why the Hell hasn't this missing PCT Hiker been found?
VloĆŸit
- Äas pĆidĂĄn 4. 01. 2023
- Kris Fowler went missing on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. I do not understand how he hasn't been found yet.
Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation: fofound.org/
Facebook group: / bringkrisfowlerhome
Follow me on Instagram đž: / kylehateshiking
My Gear spreadsheet: lighterpack.com/r/9qjh18
BIG FOUR đ€
Backpack: ula-equipment.9xrw.net/x9oX1x
My FAVORITE Tent: zpacks.com/products/plexsolo-...
Gossamer Gear Tent: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Sleeping Quilt:
Sleeping Pad: amzn.to/35rlMIw
OTHER SLEEPING STUFF đ€
Pillow: amzn.to/3he3mgX
Groundsheet:
FOOD & WATER đŽ
Filter: amzn.to/3pfZ25j
Stove: amzn.to/3simgd1
Cook Pot: amzn.to/3LSjqmJ
Spork: amzn.to/3shROja
Water Storage: amzn.to/3sinBk3
Food Bag:
Spice Container: amzn.to/3LZ2ISz
CLOTHING đ
Sun Hoody: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Shorts: amzn.to/3sdiQrL
Socks: amzn.to/3M2nPUi
Rain Jacket: amzn.to/3JPMBoy
Down Jacket: amzn.to/3UrHG2Q
Base Layer Bottom: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Base Layer Top: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Shoes: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
ELECTRONICS đ
Power Bank: amzn.to/3t4fDds
Headlamp: amzn.to/3M9yrke
Wall Plug: amzn.to/3pa3JNJ
Electronics Bag:
MISCELLANEOUS đ€
Trekking Poles: amzn.to/3hqT39n
Pack Liner: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Ultralight Knife: amzn.to/3t0m3dL
Ditty Bag:
Trowel: amzn.to/3CL0Ys6
Shoulder Pocket for Backpack: ula-equipment.9xrw.net/kjAQm0
For business inquiries only: kyle.s.ogrady@gmail.com
This video and description contains affiliate links, which means if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive a small commission at no cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!
Iâm Krisâs cousin, this is amazing. Thank you so much for this video and keeping Krisâs story alive. đ Our whole family misses him every single day and have never stopped praying and looking for him. He is always in our hearts and I know one day we will find him. This video brought me to tears. Thank you so so so much for this. đ„șđ
Do you think it's possible he is living in the wild?
Or crossed into Canada?
@@Ray-Willey No No and No
@@barbdixon7785
I wish it could be possible, but no I don't think Hris is alive.
Have you guys talked to David Paulides from Missing 411?
KyleâŠ.Iâm Marsha Fowler, Krisâs aunt. Thank you for this video and keeping this story alive. I believe one day we will have answers but till then there is a hole in our hearts that only he can fill. Iâm Glad you talked with SallyâŠ.sheâs been beyond amazing since day one and has never given up and helped so many others while searching for Kris. Thank you again. Iâll be sharing this on my Facebook as well.
Hi Marsha, Please consider sharing your story with Mr. Paulides at Missing 411. He is a retired LEO and investigates a specific range of missing persons cases. One group is men in good health, hiking and a storm camp comes up. Please consider it. I wish you the very best and am sorry for the stress your family must be experiencing.
Hi Marsha! I just saw your comment. Sally was so helpful, it's touching to see how dedicated your family is to keeping Kris's story alive. I hope he is found soon.
The gear thing isnât weird to me because his body has never been found ⊠the gear is with his body.
Im sorry for your loss and pray you and your family get closure
â@@velocitygirl8551 but it's not !!
Thanks for sharing his story Kyle. As a search and rescue volunteer for over seven years in western Washington, this is more common than most people realize. Sometimes people go missing out there, and they are never found. That is the blunt truth unfortunately. It is my opinion that he is obviously off trail, and most likely due to a fall. The person's gear is on them in their pack, and they are unable to push the SOS button on their device for help. So if this is the case, and he cannot be seen from the trail due to brush/trees, the odds on him being located are unfortunately very low. I will leave you with one thing to think about, and this is not a bash on solo hikers whatsoever. I get it, I backpack too. I have never searched for two missing people, always one.
YES! THIS! Solo hiking something like the PCT especially adds extra risk to yourself.
activation of his SPOT could have located him ! and yes never hike Solo as David Paulides Missing 411 states nor without a Personal Locator Beacon !
This is such a sad đąthing when people go missing all the time itâs horrible and heartbreaking for the
families /friends out there
The first time I saw this story on CZcams I too was thinking the exact same thing that that his stuff hasnât been seen by any other hikers yet since 2016 in my opinion I was thinking ether heâs got hurt somewhere off trail and all his stuff is in his backpack and itâs on him and heâs probably behind some treeâs/bushes were no one else is able to see him or his stuff
Or the second thing I was thinking is that he probably hitchhiking and got a ride from someone and if he did maybe whoever picked him up wasnât a good person and did the unthinkable
I hope that thatâs not the case and I truly hope that he gets found
@@glory5918 I follow Dave I believe these missing and unfound hikers and equipment are in another dimension... Alien abduction... Bigfoot... Or there's something our g.ov.t is hiding and that's why these cases aren't a priority there's no recorded number of missing hikers or dates etc without David P we wouldn't even know the sheer masses of people missing and the location hubs
Wow. Thank you for your insight.
Hi, I'm a USPS mail handler in Central CA that dispatches the mail for Inyokern, CA. Anyways I see a lot of packages come thru for the PCT hikers, that they hold at the inyokern station. I personally make sure to to secure those packages so they don't get busted open in transit cuz I know it's going to help someone out there hiking. My prayers go out for this hiker and his family. I hope they find closure.
Well, you guys shouldn't be letting any packages get busted open, lets be real. lol But I'm glad you're extra mindful of people's provisions.
â€â€â€â€
Book,cook,look,etc .. anyhow, keep up the great work!
You had me going, thinking you saw his name on a package or something lol
Iâm from Ridgecrest
I met Sherpa on the trail in 2016 at the base of San jacinto. One thing I will say regarding the potential sightings, he wasn't a character you would easily forget. We only had a brief chat but I still remember him like yesterday. Tall, bearded, thick hemp necklace, chacos. No one else on trail looked like him. Dude hauled ass in those sandals too he blew right past me.
I live in Wenatchee and have backpacked and explored this area for 50 years. I remember that October storm it was early with deep snow. This is the first year in a long time that a hiker has not gone missing. These mountains are so remote and rugged, and in places the trail is on the crest of high peaks. More than likely Chris stepped off the side of a mountain. PCT hikers need to be in Canada by October first so they don't get caught in these storms and wear beacons so they can be found. I pray that his family finds closure.
Wenatchee and Leavenworth are some of prettiest terrain Iâve ever seen too. I sure have an amazing story to share about one of my trips up there!!!
100 gps. It may not have the sos button to get rescued, but many many times I'm these cases people just get lost. In this case, he had gone that far and wanted to complete it so he made a poor choice to try to beat the storm.
White Pass to Chinook Pass would be easy to get disoriented and lost in during an early winter storm event. I've experienced an early winter snow event when bow hunting elk North of Chinook Pass near the Cascade crest, things get serious real fast if you're 10 or 15 miles from a way out.
I agree. I live near Yakima. He is probably at the base of a cliff or ridge. White pass can get very nasty
Hey Kyle! Thank you for sharing about Kris "Sherpa" Fowler and the Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation. Kris's mother Sally is a very close family friend and it is just heartbreaking there is not more information about Kris. I have had Sally on my podcast in addition to Cathy Tarr from the Fowler O'Sullivan Foundation. I wish that more hikers with platforms would share like yourself to get the word out there about Kris and the importance of hiker safety. The work the Foundation has been doing for the families of missing hikers on the PCT is amazing. Thank you again for sharing.
No problem, thank you for sharing the story as well!
Iâm certain that you help bring hope to this family. Love and light
I lived near White Pass for many years. Once you are a short distance away from the actual pass, there is no cell phone coverage. Also, if he became hypothermic, he could have wandered some distance away from the trail. People get disoriented in a storm and when they become hypothermic. We've heard of people being found dead, after having removed clothing during a storm. The best bet is that a hunter, not a hiker, will find him. That is what often happens. It's rugged, isolated country. Oh, and just for info, Chinook Pass is a seasonal highway and is closed during the winter, so it cannot be relied on if one manages to slog through a heavy snow to get there.
Was about to mention that! I lived in Packwood WA in the winter, for a while almost a decade ago, and was always told never to go anywhere near white pass especially during storms. If I recall it was often âclosedâ during massive storms right?
@@aleleeramos Actually, the White Pass Highway is usually the last one to close during storms and avalanche danger. There is a ski area there and a few skiers have taken the wrong way down. Sometimes the ski patrol rescues them, sometimes a hunter finds the remains.
@@slowp100 itâs a little ski town so That makes a lot of sense! That is so sad though.
Maybe the season I was there was just a super heavy one. I recall it being closed at least once. The more ya know! Thanks for sharing with me! â€ïž
I live by a section of the PCT and have talked to a number of hickers. I was completely shocked by the high percentage of them that had no clue on how to navigate useing a map and compass, they 100% relied on a GPS device. Being retired U.S. Army Infantry, I know a bit about land nav and to NOT rely on electronic devices, which can fail without warning, to keep track of your location.
My advice, if you can't adequately and reliable land navigate with a map and compass both day and night, you have no business being in the "wilderness", period.
I agree.
Most arenât even doing that. The PCT is a big ass trail right in front of your feetâŠuntil itâs completely gone from 8â of snow in a few hrs in a heavy early storm. He most likely missed a switchback and just kept going, tried to backtrack too late and his tracks were covered.
Dear clan: I am surprised about the ignorance of people regarding orientation to the earth they are treading on. As an engineer and a private pilot, I found the same situation with recreational pilots, or just regular old private pilots. Many of them cannot follow maps, nor do they know how to navigate properly or use the instruments properly.
These pilots are called âIFR.â. This means, âI follow roads.â The actual meaning of the acronym IFR in aviation is âinstrument flight rules.â Which has to do with flying Using only instruments, such as in severely obscure weather conditions.
Former 11B here, and I agree with you wholeheartedly. I would only add that compass and map reading are perishable skills. Keep honing those skills, and there is no shame in taking refresher courses.
Agreed. I have stated this before and was shocked at the kickback I got from it. People need to learn how to off trail hike and use map/compass orientation. It's like anything it takes practice but you will end up being infinitely more competent .
I've been hiking for 27 years. I've seen a lot of natural things and strange people on trails. Nature can be surprisingly bizarre. It occurred to me that this young man might have sought some kind of cave or large rock to take shelter near the path. Perhaps some large tree or rock fell and blocked his path out off the cave - or buried the young man. That would explain why nothing was found... And these things happen. Here in Brazil there was a very bizarre case of a boy who fell into a mighty river and ended up in a hole - but with air - under water, under a small waterfall. When the river receded he managed to get out and when he got home a few days later the family and friends were making his funeral with an empty coffin... The family was very scared but happy... The most bizarre thing is that he was with more people and everyone saw him disappear and then they did searches and nothing was found... The air bubble and strong water rapids noise prevented the people to listen his screams for help... And then he still appears at the wake itself. Then. In nature everything is possible...
đł
You should stop watching television.
I live in a city in Norway where every year there is a hike that goes by all the summits surrounding the city. And each year several thousands people participate to that hike. This year, the hike took place last Sunday, and that day I went for a short walk on a summit nearby. And I was really surprised that despite being less than 500m from the hike and having a direct view on it, I could barely see or hear anyone because of the trees hiding people and deadening the sounds. I am not surprise someone can disappear in the woods, despite having all of their hiking gear with them
I think you're underestimating just how vast an area that is. He could be a few hundred yards off trail and nobody would know. If there was snow like you said its very easy to lose the trail. This type of thing isn't very unusual. There was an older woman who went missing on the Appalachian trail and it took a few years to find her still in her tent 400 yards off the trail. She even kept a journal while waiting for help. Search teams missed her camp by a few yards.
I would just start a forest fire. Sorry y'all. I ain't dying for no reason.
2 miles off the trail. and the searchers were a 100 or so meters away.
Her story was so sad. I always kinda held it against the husband for not joining her in her passion and hiking with her. I mean yes, he would stay in hotels at the stops along the way, but I could never imagine leaving my s/o to walk that alone.
â@@incemomnia i certainly dont blame him,and he had to be worried sick.
Keep in mind she started the hike with a friend, who unexpectedly left the hike part way, both that hiker and her husband tried to convince her at that point to quit this particular hike,and not continue solo.
She had already gotten lost a few times on this same hike,and the partner had to redirect her
,despite her being argumentive and combatant about being corrected.
It was already a recipe for disaster.
She seemed a great person, but elderly (weaker ,slower), headstrong , and way over confident.
It was a sad situation.
I was just coming to the comments to say this exact story. Wondering if this hiker could have done something similar.
I used to hike alone but after hearing a lot of these missing peoples stories and they were usually alone hiking I made a decision not to hike if I am alone. Just doesnât seem to be a good thing to do anymore. So sad for this family.Also the GPS device should always be carried and active. I pray they find him someday.
Carrying a satellite gps sos phone is a life saver.
A satellite phone is invaluable in hiking situations.
Unfortunately, they're not exactly affordable yet. The mini Garmin with an SOS button Kyle talks about in another video is plenty, and connects to the very same satellites.
I was born on a farm and like you spent lots of time in the woods alone. After a little affair in the French alps, I looked back at all the times I got lucky not to have something bad happen and how many times I put myself in a position if something bad happen how screwed I would be.
I remembered a book I read on that mountain in France about native Americans. First he was stuck in an ice storm like I was. He said normally you don't move. He was being chased I was freezing. I remembered how he said to focus on each step and if you lose focus, stop and get it back. He also said native Americans really never went very far from the village alone. A minor problem can turn into a major one without help.
ââ@@theodoresmith5272 It's not just the weather, the Pacific Northwest is bear and mountain lion country. Going there without protection like bear spray is madness.
If the storm were severe enough, he may have become hypothermic/disoriented and gone off trail and may have fallen down a steep ravine where no hikers go. It's possible that he was carrying all of his gear at the time. A situation very similar to this (minus the hypothermia) happened to my cousin's cousin at Yosemite in August of 2000. Her name was Ruthanne Ruppert. The remains of a boot and her backpack were found down a steep ravine eight years after she was lost by two search and rescue dogs that were actually searching for another missing hiker and came across the items from Ruthie.
Kyle, I wouldn't question your knowledge or experience. After all I randomly landed on this video. However it isnt unheard of for Search rescue members to be just mere feets away and not be able to see through the foilage. Likewise hikers to lose all sense of direction and take their last breath just meters away from the trail they were originally looking for. I recommend reading the Seattle times article on Rachel Lakoduk. It's an amazingly well-written, yet heartbreaking, story of the 2-year search and the volunteers that go out of their way (with its critics) to carry the torch when official capacities can only go so far with countless of new rescues and emergencies. I hope and pray that Kris and his family can someday find their peace and closure. Don't lose hope. đ
A women was declared missing in California, despite a massive hunt for her body (she went missing before a snowstorm in the mountains), nothing was found. When they did find her body is was
Yep, sad but true.
Have u read "The Last Season"?
Somber, yet fantastic book if u like the PCT.
Thatâs why map & compass and knowing how to use them is so important. Death is so unnecessary in those cases. So sad. Same thing happened with a woman on the AT in Maine.
I knew a woman who disappeared several years ago and I still hope to come across her body leaning on the back side of a tree :(
â@Julia Some basic survival skills would also help, it's one thing to walk down a trail to another to get lost in the woods.
Agree. The PCT is a vast area with much of it lightly and randomly traveled. There's inclement weather, the harshness of extremes of both hot and cold. There are a few deaths every year from hiking in the West.
I left the trail on October 12t,2016 @ Stevens Pass. The previous 4-5 days was really rainy & flooding.
I spent nearly 3 days in my tent prior to the 30 year cyclone storm that dumped almost 3-4 ft of snow.
I wouldâve been screwed if I hadnât pushed nearly 20 miles to get out to the pass. I made it to the road with No Food.
I learned about Chris not too long after
You should not judge other men's ability and strength as a man which never had it in the first place.
I ve hunted from bumping lake to the Pacific Crest trail . Some of the steepest country I ever hunted..
Swamp Creek is most definitely not a place for man or beast...
My old friend's sibling went out for a dayhike in a much less strenuous place. After seeing his car in the day parking lot for three days, rangers called for a full SAR. The sibling's body was found at the base of a very steep deep cliff next to the trail. Apparently he had simply gotten too close to the edge, plunged down out of sight, and struck his head on the way down. If his car hadn't been at the trailed for too long, no one would have even known where to look.
Incidentally, the FBI reports some quarter of a million missing persons reported and never found, every year.
Good luck with Chris.
Sign in and out of log books--they are for your safety.
I know some people don't seem to enjoy these videos but I'm all for it! Not only does it spread the word to hopefully find missing hikers and bring closure to their families but it also can help people learn from other hikers stories so hopefully they don't find themselves in similar situations.
even if it only makes a few more people making better preparations,,this is very worth it.
I've learned that everyone should have their own gear bag incase you get separated
Farmers going out to their own barns in snowstorms have disappeared, never to be seen again. Our garage, which is not that far from our house has dissappear from sight during snowstorms. Our woodshed is attached behind and we always make sure we have enough wood in the house and we also have an emergency case right on the front porch when we know a storm is coming.
Trying to go out there in a snowstorm could land you who knows where.
My brother in law said he'd sometimes have to attach a rope to himself to go out to the barn during calving due to blizzards. In ND.
â@@AmyB1961 Very smart person!!! Wish more people would realize how dangerous a whiteout can be
In the old days in Wisconsin, the farmers tied a rope from the house door, to the barn door, according to my Dad who lived during that era
@@onmyway7363 nowadays a lot of people are not so sensible anymore, dont know why. getting too civilised maybe?
â@@wout123100uh, no.
Great job covering this strange event. This section is an hour from my home. We here in Yakima know the story well. Many of us have walked every sidetrail & space where one could a ride out a stormâŠno evidence of him whatsoever. Itâs incredibly perplexing. My âgutâ leans towards the Greenwater scenario. Sherpa wouldnât have needed to get all the way to Chinook Pass either. There is a âbail outâ trail halfway between the passes that leads to highway 123 and a quick hitch into Greenwater. The whole thing is so surrealâŠ.
I'm a hiker/backpacker (not a thru hiker) who found your channel via another of these missing hiker videos popping up in my algorithm. I'd love to see you keep doing these. it's an important reminder to keep myself and others on our toes a little bit when doing solo hikes. it's easy to become a little too confident and easy to forget how fragile we are as humans.. especially when the weather turns. Thank you for doing these videos!!!
I'm suprised we never heard of him. We live close to Greenwater, camping and visiting that area & their bar/restaurant alot. It's 1of my favorite places to escape too... Seeing this reminded me of a homeless man we met this last summer of "2022". On our way to the shooting range a blonde haired man stopped us to ask for a smoke. We made small talk and he tried to sell us a diy cigar/blunt or cigg snuffer he'd made out of large shotgun shells. I notice his tent (which was similar colors as the tent shown here) because it was really big for 1person... We spent about 2 weeks camping out there this trip and saw his tent every time we drove by. Probably not the same guy but eerie none the less looking back. Very nice man. I remember being suprised and impressed at his posative attitude while homeless. I couldn't help but admire his lack of shame and happiness. I thought, "if I ever go homeless, I'd wanna live out here fishing too bud"... Prayers for this hiker and his familyđđŒ
There's Bill Ewasko, Joshua Tree NP. He went missing late June 2010, found by accident February 2022. His remains were found far from where SAR people thought he would be found. Outside is a big place. ATB, hope he is found, and returned to his family.
I'm a firm believe in Occam's Razor. Removing all unknowns and hyptheticals will give you your answer. He headed out in a storm, got lost, disoriented and possibly hypothermic and died of exposure. This is very similar to what just happened here in NH with Emily. All the crazy sh*t people came up with was ridiculous. The truth was she got lost/hypothermic, wandered off trail and succumbed to the elements.
Unfortunately the world we live in is a lot more complex than that.
@@youtubesucks-yx6kk
Not usually.
Yeah, well your bombastic assumptions and obstinance started a war that got 28 million killed last century.
@@youtubesucks-yx6kk no it's not
@@jablanbukvovski đ§
I follow his disappearance since 2916.
I firmly believe that he got caught up in the storm and left the trail due hypothermia.
As far as I know he hiked in sandals, also he lost weight due the long hike he already did.
Iâm from Alaska and we lose every year a lot of people to hypothermia.
It comes fast and silent. I know of people who got hypothermia after a short summer rain.
His decision to hike on besides the severe warnings and not using his InReach shows that he wasnât aware how dangerous the situation could be.
One of the first symptoms is that people get disoriented and making irrational decisions.
Maybe he went of trail, or wandered along a other trail.
The problem is we apply common sense when we start to search for someone but the the missing person with hypothermia didnât.
He can be off trail just for a mile and the chance to be found in this area is zero.
Also people donât go fast being in a snowstorm. My feeling tells me he didnât made it miles down the trail.
Just remember Geraldine was under 2 miles from the trail and it took years to find her.
I really hope one day there will be answer for the family.
Nothing is worse than not to know.
Yes - this seems credible. Many thru-hikers don't have much mountaineering experience - they are used to groomed trails in good weather. And to save weight they often skimp on the gear they would need to stay safe in a truly nasty storm. Things can go south fast if you don't keep warm, and keeping warm when you are working hard and sweating is not a trivial skill. He may well have left the trail through disorientation or to search for shelter...
Are you a time traveler??
@@albtckl LOL⊠I wish!
very logical yes and very probable.
@@tullochgorum6323 exactly, they don't get the severity of PNW storms
Thanks Kyle, this is a sad story. Things can be lost forever not far off the trail. I've camped a few places not far off trail, where I knew if something happened to me, I probably would never be found. The O'Sullivan story is really distressing as the whole hiking community was denying he was lost while his family in Ireland were frantic to find out what was going on.
I leapfrogged and sometimes camped with Kris in 2016 as we headed North on the PCT. There were a handful of issues with how the search was conducted, a primary one being that "bear hunters" claimed to have seen him in an area that is way beyond the scope of where he was capable of getting to given the storm and his circumstances, resulting in search resources being placed in the wrong area. The bear huntersâ story was then disproven when pictures on their FB profiles placed them at a football game the dates they had their "sighting", but long after the fact. I moved to Portland in 2018 for the sole purpose of searching for Kris, but I only got a fraction of the routes I had intended to do done ... the area was too large and my resources were too small. I was unable to get the main search group to share their GPS tracks so myself and others could insure we weren't wasting our time walking routes already walked, so my hope is that those issues have been resolved for the sake of finding Kris. I believe Kris will be found, hopefully sooner rather than later.
That seems suspicious
You really should talk with Sally Fowler she is doing all the searching today and has the GPS coordinates also.
I'm a local hiker and think often about what might have happened to Sherpa. Thanks for bringing attention to his story.
Weâll be hiking the Oregon and Washington sections of the PCT this year. We will definitely keep an eye out. Great job with this video.
Thank you!
@@KyleHatesHiking Kyle please get in touch .I believe that I have info on Kris fowlers gear and it's location ..
â@@ronaldsmith6336 what about his body
@@dutchess406 I have not a clue .where his body is. I can only hope and pray that there is still something left of his gear after 3 years . @Dutchie there was a set of snowmobile tracks that went around where gear was left .I have always thought it was a snowmobiler. It was during COVID lock down essential workers only.. April 10 of 2020 so it's most likely a local resident from Snoqualmie pass .or they own a second home up there .. IMO. Also who ever found his gear and left it in the parking lot will have to be found before Kris will be found ..or he is alive .!! and he is the one who sat hidden in a late 90's green Honda Civic and watched my kids and I as they searched through his pack . My daughter pulled out his spot device and asked what it was .. I barked at her to put it away that it wasn't ours to touch she said there is also a cell phone in here too .told her I don't care leave it alone. It's not ours .!! told my son we are being watched. someone is in the car watching us . So I took a walk with his stocking cap my dog freaked out on it so bad I finally threw it in the trees to keep her from it .we left shortly after I returned to the car ..
Not knowing where he is has to be his family's worst nightmare. As a hiker myself this is scary and sad. I hope he's found so his family can be at peace. I live in Washington and the weather in the mountains can change on a dime.
Thanks for raising awareness about Kris and for the great work the FOF is doing. Prayers to Sally. Sheâs a fierce advocate for hiker safety!
Thank you Doug!
Perhaps!! He fells in a wholes as rain turning toos snow s winds his heads downs bigs tree sometimes falls overs ons his tents as under brush thicks like it is there's ins the north west truelyz hide him packs everything s so don't bes navez here's it happens there's as an old logger's me selfs !! So good lucks ins you're hunts of finding hims as most hikers moves right alongs really thick brush devil's clubs noseeems you don't see thems but you cans sure feels thems stays safe out there's now's go find this young fellows now's
Kyle, do you remember when rocks and dirt came down while you were on a very narrow piece of trail? If you were alone and had been swept down the slope, would you have been found? I think this is why people should not hike alone.
This is immediately what I thought as well. Then the hiker and their gear would be swept away from the trail and likely not visible to other hikers.
Yes, but...I will still hike alone and accept that risk. I saw the signs this summer for Sherpa and thought the same thing.
You're right, it can happen. It's all about the level of risk you find acceptable. I love my friends, but most of them don't love the outdoors as much as me. So I accept the risk and hike alone.
All spaces below cliffs and steep slopes between White and Chinook have been searched quite throughly. Heavily trafficked area. Perplexing.
Yes, like just south of white pass is that razor's edge in the Goat Rocks which got rather hairy. If he fell in mid October, that is the start of the weather turning so if he was out there all winter there may be no trace come spring from the wildlife activity. Also u see random gear all the time, so u wouldn't necessarily think something nefarious happened if u did find it. Man, scary stuff.
I hiked in 2016 and always found this story interesting. I never knew about the two other sightings, and they do seem more credible. However, having no credit card or cell phone activity in either towns seems super unusual. You know as a hiker that as soon as you get into a town you are going to turn on your phone. And especially at Mazama, he would have definitely got something to eat. I do hope one day he is found.
Also, if you have ever hiked with any significant amount of snow on the ground, it can be very easy to lose the trail, or think you are hiking on the trail when you are not.
Hi Kyle,
Thanks for raising awareness -this is very sad to hear as I absolutely love the trail. We will definitely keep an eye out for these guys. đđ
A couple thoughts come to mind 1.We ran into a nasty snow storm on the JMT section one July and literally couldn't see the trail from snow cover, even tho it was clear just hours before. Just sat in the tent for 2 days and didn't see another person until 5 days later down the trail. So if something like this happened when Sherpa ventured into that storm, he may have gone off trail to seek shelter / less wind? and was injured or something? (but yes, not typical we would abandon the trail).
2. We have had a few run-ins with some sketchy locals; granted 95% have been very nice / hitch rides / trail angels, etc. but had some weird stuff too (in WA State mind you). There seemed to be some resentment for sure, as the trail has gotten so busy in the last decade.
Always have to keep your guard up and definitely recommend hiking with at least one other person.
Peace,
El Fiasco
activated Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a MUST carry per David Paulides Missing 411 and Never hike solo.
Coincidentally I'm headed over to that area next week, weather permitting. I typically backpack in the Olympic National forest and wanted a change. I noticed on the WTA site that Kris was last seen October 12, 2016 in Packwood, which is SW of Chinook Pass and at the foot of Mt. Rainer. I cannot fathom having a loved on go missing. I'll definitely keep Kris on my mind when I'm over there.
Well since 1988 there have been 16000 people that have gone missing in Alaska. Sometimes it takes years before any remains are found.
I haven't hiked this section but if it's similar to sections to the north, I slipped off the trail lined with berry bushes. The down slope was a cliff and I needed assistance to return to the trail. There wasn't anywhere to get a foothold. I probably would have fallen a long distance and been buried under those bushes if I had to drop. This was not due to snow or ice but due to trail that was slipping off the contour.
If you can't find him, you're not going to find his stuff...right? He would have it with him, wouldn't he? The stuff is with him, you can't find him, you can't find his stuff. I'm not a hiker. I know nothing about it...there may be some things they do that I don't know about but it's seems like common sense to me. Perhaps Sherpa has just "run away"? People do that sometimes. Whatever the case, I can't imagine not knowing where your child is so I pray mom finds some answers soon. It's a beautiful thing that so many are out there looking and trying to help. Thanks to all of you. And thanks for this channel helping too.
Unfortunately this happens way too much in these national parks, we've had a few missing hunters that were found but both had sad endings and very suspicious. I pray they find him and he's okay.
it happens so much because a lot of people making wrong decisions there and unfortunate accidents do happen, nobodies fault.
I'm just a section hiker and outdoorsman, but I did accurately guess where the James Kim family would be found, as well as the Higginbotham family,... both cases were in the same area. My friend in SAR, indicated they are not approving of rouge or individual ideas, so don't place to much credence on what SAR says. Anyway you can look up how those turned out.
But in this case, I also have to use occums razor,...if I was nearly hypothermic on a trail, (and have been), I would immediately go downhill on a side trail, and then look for a flat spot for a tent, in this case, to the west, as that is where towns are.
I remember this story. I live in Seattle and i've been a PCT trail angel here for many years.
If I remember correctly he left White Pass heading north. A female PCT hiker also did the same, but they weren't together.
The weather was nasty and alot of snow was coming down. If I remember correctly she turned around and luckily made it back to White Pass. She was reported missing, but again walked out on her own. Chris was never seen again.
It doesn't take much snow to cover the trail. He could've had an accident only 100 feet off the trail and may never be seen again. The chance of leaving the trail at that exact spot and finding his gear is low.
Chinook.... it's the name of a salmon. Chinook salmon.
Pronounced shinuk
It's also the name of a down-sloping wind that warms the air. A Chinook coming down the Front Range of Colorado is responsible for sudden temperature increases in the Denver area.
Thank you! I thought I knew of him, but wasn't sure. Your comment reminded me how-this story was all over the WA hiking groups I'm in back then....
My dad and my brother used to go ride on trails like these on their mountain bikes on the weekends years ago, and my dad signed up as a volunteer in a search party for a missing hiker here in the Canary Islands since the hiker went missing on the area he used to ride and knew by heart, and also he could access some areas on his bike where other volunteers couldn't by foot, and as a father of 3 himself it tore him down meeting with the family... Rescuers kept his contact information in case they needed him again, and sure enough not even a month later they called him again, and he's been on numerous search parties since... I hope they find him đ€â„ïž
Maybe he doesn't want to be found. Went off grid and living off the land. But his family would know if that was his style, or dream. I imagine there are bears and mountain lions in those forests. Watch some bear videos and see how bears are an occasional hunk of bad reality.
I hope he surfaces to tell us an amazing story.
I wish I could have done some of this kind of hiking in my youth, when I had energy. Paying child support kind of locked me into staying close to a reliable full time job. People, do some living before getting trapped on the hamster wheel. Being a father has a brought me incredible joy, but it's a great responsibility that requires sacrifice. Kids cost money.
Free of needing money is the start of real freedom.
I'd love to hike a trial like this one day. But these stories are the reason I wont be doing it alone.
Thanks. For the update. I hiked the pct that year but ended my hike at shelter cove. I've Been following Chris's case. I too find it odd that not a trace has been found of him.
it is quite odd. I hope someone finds him soon
Though I am not a backpacker, I do enjoy listening to the various stories of backpackers and you do a wonderful job of being so passionate and honest about those folks you talk about. I have read other cases of hikers going missing and never found and in my ignorance, I can't seem to come to the realization that this happens so frequently. I have been on various hikes before when I would vacation in Washington and Oregon but the trails I followed were merely to photograph waterfalls and seldom were they very long hikes, just basically 1-2 hours in length! So, when I hear of hikers disappearing and never found I am rather dumbfounded in trying to understand why! I guess I am not that type of risk taker to alter my plans by going off trail for whatever reason, especially, if I don't have back up emergency equipment. Thanks for the work you put into your reviews and I look forward to reading more of your vlogs. Take care and have a nice evening.
We were planning to go back packing / hiking up by Goat rocks when Kris disappeared. After reading about this we decided against going up there. It was too weird. He isn't the only one missing.
Being in Washington during a storm in mid-October is no joke. And the trail can definitely get obscured by snow. I could definitely see wandering pretty far off trail without necessarily realizing it, then getting disoriented and not being able to make your way back. I hope his family gets closure and that he is found one day. â€
Kyle, the Greenwater Naches Tavern sighting makes the most sense. It is the closest community to Chinook pass (rhymes w/rook). I live close to Greenwater, there is almost non existent cell coverage from William OâDouglas wilderness area to & including the very small community of Greenwater. The Greenwater store is small and is not an ideal resupply and closes early. It is possible that Sherpa tried to hitchhike further to Enumclaw where there is cell coverage and large grocery stores. This is another 20 miles west and may be a logical progression. Mike
When we pass through Palm Springs on the I - 10 you can see San Jacinto and San Gorgonio peak and The PCT goes through those frightening mountains I canât imagine how difficult it is to navigate at night & in a snow storm đšïž
I was always surprised he was at white pass so late in the season. Mid-October Washington weather is sketch. It can change and deteriorate very, very quickly.
I hiked, leaped frogged and hung out at the THC with sherpa in 2016. I got off trail at white pass a couple of days before he came thru. I hope one day Sally and his family gets answers for his disappearance.
Kris missing is one thing.. but not finding any of his gear is another .. curious as to if he was carrying a gun or weapon of some sort ⊠because I do .. everyone should while hiking, whether for bear , mountain lions or whatever ⊠the woods / forest etc can be beautiful.. even therapeutic⊠but thereâs always the danger element.. whether it be wild animals⊠or even worse , evil human beingsâŠ. Praying that Kris will show back up one day with an interesting story.
I had a cougar on my place kill a fawn and bury it and for the life of me I could not find it. I didn't start digging, but could smell it, had seen the fawns and the cougar on trail cams and there was just no sign at all. Last summer I very nearly stepped across a bear which was sleeping in the shade of a dry creek bed. The best thing people can do is wear colours like bright blue or neon. Too many go out wearing khaki and camo.
It's pronounced Shin Hook but with a silent H. Chinook describes a conglomerate of native tribes of the Pacific Northwest that all spoke a similar dialect, the Chinook dialect. Some of their people's are subsumed under the Grand Ronde tribes of Oregon and they are a currently underrepresented Native group despite their history being woven into important pieces of Pacific Northwestern history. Apart from Chinook pass, a species of Pacific salmon also share the same namesake in a similar vein. So yeah it's "shin ook" - pronounced like "hook" or "book". I remember seeing Sherpa's missing person signs when I went through that area of the PCT in 2021 but I never found any of his gear either.
If I remember correct the trail crosses a dirt road in that section and u have to follow it for a little bit and the trail reappears to the right. Very easy to miss, even on a clear day.
Outstanding job, Kyle! You obviously have a real talent for this kind of storytelling. I hope you keep it up.
The most ridiculous thing in this entire video to me, is that you need a subscription service to call for help. If you have one of those devices, there should be a way to get help without having to pay a service. Kind of like, even a cellphone without service can still call 911. Something like that on a Spot GPS would be the right thing to do and may have saved Kris' life.
Hey!! We were on the trail thru-hiking the same year!
I was just talking about this case and how we can learn from other hikers that have been found.
If you remember seeing Sherpaâs flyer you might also remember seeing the missing hikerâs fliers from the high Sierra trail.
I am so saddened by both of these disappearances and I remember pondering them many nights out on the trail. Especially when I did get to White pass and eventually up near packwood on my 2022 thru-hike (which was also disrupted by wildfires, not sure what yours was disrupted by but Iâm guessingđ„).
Thanks for this great video. We should all be focusing on finding and remembering missing hikers and how we can continue to do the most to protect ourselves for us, our friends and families.
I always carry a 0 degree mummy bag and waterproof gortex bivey that zips up around the sleeping bag. Really not that much extra weight and gets small in a compression sack. I can sleep in a snow bank if I need to right out in the elements. I think it's crazy not to especially in those areas
I hope you also carry a personal locator beacon, and I donât need a spot or a satellite communicator. I mean a true personal locator beacon made by ACR
I heard solo hiker, in a storm, who hitchhikes. I do not think this case is too hard to guess what may have happened, unfortunately.
This gives me uncomfortable feelings .. Iâve seen ârandomâ gear ditched before on trails and thought twice like hmm thatâs weird but then kept on walking. I wonder how many other people do the same đą we should I guess normalize making a big deal out of nothing because you never know right?!
I generally report it to whatever rangers have jurisdiction, but you do find really weird stuff out in the middle of nowhere.
Kyle, what you've done for this family is a beautiful gift. I pray that somehow, someone will discover the truth behind his disappearance. That'd you'd take your time and effort to help is so wonderful. You're so helpful.
If he built a shelter out of branches or climb into a hollowed out log it would be very hard to find him and his gear if he passed while trying to stay warm....
Thank you for all your work into this case I wish there was coverage like this for all the MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS MEN AND WOMEN across Turtle Island. Hope all people are found đ
My friends, I know hiking a trail like this is a achievement to do alone. But, never hike alone or without protection. When your alone you become a target, and not just from humans.
My pistol is never out of arms reach, Iâm genuinely shocked that people will literally go into the wilderness by themselves without carrying
People traveling or camping alone are the mostly likely victims Âof predatory black bear attacks. Over 70% of fatal black bear attacks involve a single person. Only 9% of fatal black bear attacks occur when 2 or more people are present.
The common belief that a mother black bear with cubs is the most dangerous kind of black bear encounter is inaccurate. Lone, predatory, male black bears hunting people as a potential source of food are the greatest cause of deadly black bear maulings.
Some ppl dont have anybody that will go w themâŠđ€·ââïž
@@wasidanatsali6374 I am calling BS on this. Black Bears are very rarely aggressive to humans. Don't believe me, look it up. Plus, I am in the woods with them often.
Lolol. Say you arenât a true hiker without saying âIâm not a real hikerâ
I know a lotta of us may not be able to afford personal locating devices but geeesh it seems like itâs something that every hiker that is out for long hikes MUST use one. The amount of missing people with little to no trace is alarming tk sayvthe least. I hope he is located soon
Some went missing with that so not always helps i geuss
@@Sammydushi really?? đł
He had one but didn't activate a subscription because companies value money more than safety
@@pruefus4113 as he did too.
Phones are getting sos satellite. Iphone already has it, Android is getting 2024
Thank you for sharing the Fowler-OâSullivan Foundation information. Knowing they're trying to help hikers with GPS devices, as well as, the search and rescue assistance they give makes their organization one I'll definitely give to as often as possible. †I hope everyone stays safe out there and invest in the Garmin inReach Mini, it has saved lives.
There are personal locator beacons without subscription plans available. They normally only can send an SOS, but if one does not need the communication features they are a cheper alternative for safety.
I honestly didn't know this, thanks for sharing
@@KyleHatesHiking One example would be the Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1. It is originally intended for sailors, but used by some hikers. The satellite coverage is supposed to be more extensive than on satellite communicators because a public search and rescue network is used as opposed to the private iridium network most communicators use. In case of an emergency the local public search and rescue authorities are alerted. Wether they are any good surely depends on where you are. I am sure there are other PLBs that work like this, and might be cheaper alternatives to subscription based options.
My brother in law gave me one of these last summer for my birthday. Its made by resqlink. Its just the epirb beacon but it was extremely appreciated for sure. Iâm thinking about picking up the zoleo as my cellphone is fairly new and Iâve got a powerbank.
1st b4 anything else, let me say to Kris' family & loved ones how sorry I am for the grief & longing I know they must be going through. I pray that they get the answers they need to put the agony they currently feel to rest. Anything else I might say is NOT any kind of hatefulness or negativity thrown at Kris or them but is born of over 40 years of investigative study & obsession.
The 2 questions I have over any mystery are what & why? Most often it's by answering the 2nd question that we get an answer to the 1st. The most intriguing thing you said in this video (very well done & I subbed btw) is that he was known for hitchhiking. That is the kind of information that can help to answer the 2nd question. I have no judgment about any kind of personal proclivities to make at all. So he was up for hitchhiking, so what? Heaven knows I have my own quirks; personal quirks are what makes life & the living of it worth the effort. It sounds as if Kris grabbed himself a big ol' armful of life & went for it! Good for him!!
Still, it's those habits, those tendencies, that get us to the why of a mystery. It's why the cops ask, or should've asked, about sexual orientation, current & past love partners, current & past employment & employers & current or past friends who knew him/her well. The truth about a person's intimate adult life is often not known to close family but close friends. Did the person in general get along w/ other ppl or did s/he keep mostly to him/herself? And the controversial info, did the missing person carry any self defense tool on his/her person? If so, was s/he trained in it's use? Would s/he have been willing to use it?
I pray Kris' family were asked these questions & others like them by law enforcement. Having been married n2 it for awhile & sad to say but there often IS a lot of judgment in the leo community & even sadder it can affect how much effort is put into a case. If any of his family believe a less than thorough job of investigation has occurred I'd encourage them to fill out the necessary complaint now but save the bulk of what energy they have left for the continuing search. I'd strongly suggest purchasing the service of a private investigator even if only for a week. If s/he is former law enforcement so much the better. I know it can be expensive though. The area is close enough to the border you've got to include the possibility, remote though it is, that Canadian officials should be advised. You can do worse than having the RCMP on your side. Lastly, I promise, is this: that's big forest country up there, you need somebody familiar with it. A Mick Dodge type. Familiar with the interior like he's familiar nearer the coast. And after all this time, knowing the terrain of their search, I can't believe leo's would not have already contacted such a person.
Anyhow, sorry for the long winded ramble. Peace & Blessings to Kris' family, to this channel & to the world entire. It's a crazy place these days
I am so moved by your videos, especially videos like this where you investigate and report on missing hikers. You are so valued by the families. Grateful new sub!
Excellent well prepared presentation, direct, concise & to the point. Without senseless rambling & editing fillers.
Kyle! This is an awesome thing youâre doin here! I used to watch rusty west videos a lot which in turn has me terrified to backpack alone but thats a problem to solve later on. Anyway I was talking about the rusty west YT vids with my mom one time on the way to the airport and she was mentioning that maybe these people disappeared because they want to reinvent their lives in a different country or under an alias. Not sure what to think. Cryptids, mountain lions, weatherâŠ. All terrifying. One thing that stands out in my mind is that he had a spot but hadnât set it up with a subscription yet he was carrying it around. Seems like the extra weight is something thruhikers wouldnât want. Thatâs rather mysterious. Also, why would he walk into that bar, sit down and not order anything and then just walk out. Maybe he slipped into Canada and started a new life for himself. Who knows. Iâm always baffled how people go on a little dayhike in yosemite and just vanish forever. People vanish out of olympia national park as well. Itâs really weird. When i was 23 i did an overnight backpack trip up to fernandez pass in yosemite park, set up camp and headed back down the following day. It was like 20 miles round trip or something. There was no trees to hang my food so i did the second line of defense at the time which was set it down in a rock crevice that I could reach down and grab. Crazy! Quiet night though and no cryptids, bears or mountain lions thank goodness!đđŒ That was the summer of 1994 and i was on a fire crew with the sierra national forest for the summer.
Kyle this is great that your continuing to shine the light on these missing folks. They, at least deserve that. Take care sir. NQU
Have family in that area. Been looking for Sherpa all around there. Great video. He allegedly stayed in a trailer on someoneâs property. But to leave the area is strange.
Loving your videos!
I am from Oregon and love the PNW. When I heard this story while living in Northern California it made my heart just hurt for his family, itâs so sad to hear he is still missing(Iâve moved to Michigan). I hope he is found so his family can have closure. â€ïž
The pronunciation of Chinook is Shh- Nuk. Itâs from the Native Chinookan people that were established there. People get really hung up on Skamokawa, Touchet, and Tshletshy, too. đ
This makes name wanna develop a silicone water resistant bracelet that pings every hour your last location. Maybe could get a week-4 weeks of battery life. Wireless Recharging to keep it water proof tight. Maybe make monthly/yearly subscription plans to help cover the custom website with tracking. This would probably help significantly
I think there is a hidden threat in many of the western mountainous areas. There are numerous old abandoned mines. They have airshafts and sinkholes which develop into the mine due to water and collapses. Many of these mines may never have been properly documented. I can even see situations in which some miners dig into another's claim area and fail to document that activity. Someone could slide into one of these hidden shafts with their backpack and equipment and become asphyxiated as they become crushed between the walls. While I assume there is a process the state and federal agencies go through to identify and render these old mines safe, some of these hazards might be missed. There are also natural voids and crevasses in mountains. If someone went down one of these would search parties really notice? These areas may be covered by vegetation.
I'm not sure how to properly probe for and eliminate these. They could explain the quick and complete disappearance of people. The mountain swallows them up.
These stories are a great addition to your channel, Kyle. Very interesting stuff that brings awareness. Thank you!
Thanks Roger! Glad you like these videos
I think it's great that you are keeping this story alive but I also think you underestimate just how difficult it is to find the remains of someone in these wilderness areas, for a variety of reasons. You have to look no further than the case of Geraldine Largay who went missing along the AT in Maine less than 2 miles from the trail. Despite an extensive search she was not found for two years and then only by chance. Then there is David O'Sullivan who vanished near Idyllwild. You combine a fall down a sttep slope and wild animals and the lack of a precise location to search and its no wonder than these hikers have not been found, sadly.
Very respectful video by the way both of them have been. I really enjoy this content. And I think it's really awesome. You're keeping awareness up for some of these missing people. Thank you! Keep up the great work!!!
Thanks Sean!
Such good sightings and valuable information and yet not been found? This whole thing seems so bizarre. Thank you for introducing this story and keeping it active. His family still has such hopes as we all do even though in not knowing him I pray he will be found or something happens as it shows him having gone so far. Did something happen where he does not remember? I pray his family finally get some answers and be with them all in keeping his story alive and not forgotten. Bless this mother for taking pictures of all his gear. That is so helpful. Prayers for word or his whereabouts will come for those who love and care for him so much.
Lifetime resident of Western Washington here (with every residence also remaining always within no more than 45mins. of Seattle?) & I just wanted to say a few things!?
1. I listen to a LOT of these types of stories/cases, and I honestly cannot recall having ever heard of Kris's, so, thank you for telling his story& I would imagine his family sincerely appreciates your coverage as well! â€ïžđ€đđ
2. I suppose this should have been #1? First time listener/viewer of your channel- SUBSCRIBED!
3. I DID notice that you indeed managed to get that correct pronunciation of CHINOOK down around 9:15(?) but- yes, it is CHIN (like SHIN) & OOK just like BOOK. đđŒ
I think most disappearances are probably caused by the simplest and most mundane circumstances. For instance, walking just a bit off trail to seek shelter under a tree or in a cave and then getting lost or injured. That said, missing hiker stories are also some of the most tragic and perplexing mysteries. I hope there is some resolution to this disappearance soon.
So many folks who cover some of these missing 411ish stories forget the folks they talk about have families who are still looking and still hurting. You didnât. Very well done.
Great video with detailed information. So upsetting for the family. Likely all his gear is with him, far from where anybody has searched. Thanks Kyle!
Based on the fact he often hitchhiked, and that locals in that area have some sort of resentment towards thru hikers, it's possible he is not lost on the trail and someone did something to him while hitching. Hence, no gear being found.
Thank you for all your hard work gathering all the info on these stories đ„°đđ
Thereâs typically a lot of creepy similarities between missing person cases. Iâve been on a few SAR searches. Keep your head on a swivel everyone! Also check out the missing enigma. Awesome Channel that covers more missing hikers and outdoorsmen.
On Vancouver Island and there were two women of similar colouring and size who disappeared at the same time of year but several years apart, in parks about 10 miles apart, but basically same circumstances. It is creepy.
I hope really hope that your bringing this incident to more people's attention will help bring closure to Chris's family and other families that are also missing their loved ones.
Thank you for the beautiful scenery and your thorough coverage of this sad story
Prayers for Kris and his dear family. Thanks for reviewing his Case.
Great video, Kyle. I'm enjoying this series and hope you continue to make more videos like this.
I will continue making these so long as people keep asking for them! thanks for your input, and thanks for watching!
in the south we say Chinook as in "Shhhh-Nook" as in book lol
*Theory Disclaimer* With the gusts of wind and a storm if there are any ledges along the pass it's likely he could have lost his balance and fallen or been struck by something and fell with it, That would explain his gear still being with him and thus not recovered. I would definitely expand the search to area's below any inclines off trail. I've been known in my past to brave a storm before not knowing how bad bad truly is and slip in certain regions and then have no where to set up camp and have to keep "trekking", this would explain the bar tenders story. After an ordeal like that however I'd dry out my belongings, wash them and get some much needed rest in town before heading back out unless I was so very pressed to finish on time but even then it would be highly unlikely I'd go back without at least changing and drying off first. Packages can be somewhat traced as well with the USPS even at least to an arrival point/last documented point. If it didn't arrive that's one thing but missing does sound like he may have received it or someone else did using his name. I Definitely think logs should be kept in the future to help out any other families of missing people. It's so very sad, thank you for covering these videos it really does raise awareness.
Sorry about this. I really hope your family gets closure and peace on this situation. Best wishes.
Nice to see someone choose topics that could help society. Well done.
Just a thought. The last time I went to Naches I pulled off the road to relive myself. It was dark and I nearly stepped off a cliff that dropped at least 70 feet. There's no sign and at night if you're walking and not paying attention it's quite possible to just plum walk off the world. The spot I believe is up the road on the right side. I wonder if that precipice has been checked?
Kay Knowles broke he neck at night away from her tent; kind, soft spoken cousin
from Michigan near Detroit.
â@@robertknowles2699so sorry for your loss. Thank you dor bringing awareness.
theres multiple stories of people who live on the pct following people and coming for them in the night.. the pct goes through states with bad drug habits and homelessness.
I thru-hiked in 2021 and thought of him so, so often while on trail. I grew up in Ohio for a bit just as he did. I remember getting chills when I first saw the posters, having made it up into WA. I have since moved to WA and often head out to the Mike Urich cabin, within the bounds of where Chris went missing. Iâve gone off path all around the area but havenât ever found anything. Not sure why I feel pulled or compelled to, but perhaps one day something can come of it. Iâm praying he will be found one day, he and his family deserve peace.
I live in Oregon and this is the first time I'm hearing about this. Kudos to you for helping keep folks informed on your channel. I've been around a few more years than you. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of reasons why a single hiker can go missing and not be found. In Denali, it used to happen four or five times a year during peak season. It was written off to the fact that there are no trails and many hike there who don't often hike off trail. Kind of makes sense except for the fact that in most cases it was known where their day hike was started and yet they were never found. How far can an inexperienced off trail day hiker go and not be found in a place that usually has miles of visibility from the road?
My point is that when someone isn't found, even people who should know better jump to conclusions they think are reasonable. But the only conclusion that matters is the truth. Wide speculation from experienced hikers, search and rescue workers, etc, is the best thing to happen now imo. Some ideas may help to tie the clues found so far together. Then, when a key clue is found, one or more theories might emerge as real possibilities. That seems like the most likely way in which this mystery gets solved. Social media is an ideal place for that to happen.
My wife thinks she may have solved the mystery of how all those hikers were never found in Denali. It's a good theory but never proven. If anyone has lost a loved one in the park who was not found, I'd be happy to share it with them. It would take many hours of research to reach a conclusion based mainly on circumstantial evidence. But if it did pan out, I'm sure it would help bring some closure for many loved ones.
You're doing a great job on these missing hiker videos. I'm very sure the families are grateful for you keeping their loved ones' stories alive.
Sally was very grateful. It's important to keep these stories in mind, thanks for watching