Olympic National Park

Search and rescue teams recovered the body of Neil Gehring from the northwest slope of Mt. Appleton on Sunday evening. Searchers located Gehring after receiving and analyzing additional cell phone location data. Gehring was transferred to the Clallam County Coroner’s Office at approximately 8 p.m. on September 13. No additional information is available at this time. Olympic National Park is grateful for all the dedicated search and rescue teams that volunteered to assist with this effort.  

The search for Neil Gehring in Olympic National Park will continue as tactics shift. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone who was in the area or has information that may assist the search is asked to email OLYM_Tips@cloud.doi.gov or call the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009.

The National Park Service is searching for Neil Gehring, 26, who left the Madison Falls Trailhead in Olympic National Park on August 31. According to his backcountry permit, Neil intended to make a cross-country traverse from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass, returning to the Madison Falls Trailhead on September 1. He was reported overdue at 6:30 a.m. on September 2. Search efforts began immediately after notification. Anyone who was in the area or has information that may assist the search is asked to call the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009.

Firefighters extinguished two small lightning fires in Olympic National Park on Tuesday. The Maiden 2 fire had burned 0.7 acres near a ridgeline approximately 1 mile north of Maiden Peak. A single tree fire near Deer Park Campground was also extinguished. Both fires were ignited during last weekend’s lightning storm.

A rabid bat was found at Olympic National Park near Staircase Bridge on August 9th. Anyone who may have had contact with a bat in the area (even if not bitten) should contact a healthcare provider and their local health department promptly to determine whether treatment is needed.