Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

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200,000'
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Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by 200,000' » July 21st, 2014, 12:14 pm

Another missing hiker. The absence of clues during the search seems very strange.

I've posted three media stories below, starting with the oldest.

{The first story from July 17}
Crews Search Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail For Missing Hiker

Thursday, July 17, 2014

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. – Search efforts are under way in Mount Rainier National Park for a day hiker who went missing Saturday while hiking with his son in the Panhandle Gap area on the Wonderland Trail.

Edwin Birch, 64, from Tacoma set out from Box Canyon early Saturday morning after he dropped his son off at White River to hike the same trail in the opposite direction, said a Mount Rainier National Park spokesperson.

Both father and son had set a goal to hike the Wonderland Trail in sections, and their plan was to hike the section between Box Canyon and White River, roughly 19 miles in length.

At about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Birch and his son met midway on the trail near Indian Bar at around the 6,600 feet level. The son said his father seemed well, although he was a bit tired.

After arriving at the Box Canyon trailhead around midnight, the son picked up the car and drove to pick up his father at White River. When his father did not appear he notified park rangers at White River at 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Mount Rainier National Park initiated search efforts Sunday morning at about 7 a.m., with 10 ground searchers and an MD530 helicopter from Northwest. Helicopters. The entire trail and surrounding areas were covered that day without any signs of the missing hiker. On Monday, more than 50 people joined the search, including members from Everett, Tacoma, and Olympia Mountain Rescues, along with an Everett Mountain Rescue dog team, and air support from Northwest Helicopters. The search will continue Tuesday. A park spokesperson said the Wonderland Trail is snow-covered above 6,300 feet and patchy at other locations.

Source: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Crew ... 67121.html

(Updated Story July 18)
Crews scale back search for missing hiker on Mount Rainier

By Craig Hill, Staff writer July 18, 2014
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/07/1 ... rylink=cpy

The search for a missing Tacoma man at Mount Rainier National park was scaled back to two 3-person search and rescue teams, park superintendent Tracy Swartout said Friday morning.
The park is no longer searching by air, Swartout said. He said that if the crews couldn’t find 64-year-old Edwin Birch by late Friday, the park would evaluate the operation and determine if it will continue actively searching Saturday.

Birch has been missing since July 12 when he hiked a 19-mile section of the Wonderland Trail on the east side of Mount Rainier. That section is one the most challenging on the 93-mile trail and includes the trail’s highest point, Panhandle Gap.

Birch was last seen July 12 just south of Panhandle Gap when he saw his son. His son hiked the section from north to south while Birch was hiking south to north. The son retrieved the car and drove back to the north end of the trail. When Birch wasn’t at the trailhead, his son reported him missing.

Swartout said searchers had checked the entire length of the trail many times. The trail is still covered with snow above 6,300 feet. Birch was last seen at 6,600 feet. Panhandle Gap is at 6,800 feet.

Before Friday, search parties had exceeded 40 people and multiple helicopters had been used. If rescuers are unable to find Birch, the park will eventually transition into what it calls a “limited continuous search.” This typically means rangers and park aircraft will look for signs of the missing hiker when they are in the area.

Searchers are not yet making assumptions about Birch’s condition. “We are hoping for the best,” Swartout said.

Craig Hill: 253-597-8497 [email protected] @AdventureGuys

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/07/1 ... rylink=cpy

(Last story July 19)
Search For Missing Hiker At Mount Rainier National Park Proving Fruitless
Submitted by NPT Staff on July 19, 2014

A week of searching for a missing day hiker at Mount Rainier National Park has so far proven fruitless, prompting a decision by park officials to scale back the hunt.

Edwin Birch, 64, of Tacoma, Washington, and his son set out last Saturday to hike a 19-mile section of the Wonderland Trail, a 90-odd mile route that encircles Mount Rainier. The plan was to have each start from opposite ends of the section that stretched from Box Canyon to White River, with the younger man driving back to the trailhead he set out from to pick up his father. But the elder Birch never showed up at the White River trailhead as planned late last Saturday night.

On Friday the search for the man centered on high-probability locations near the Wonderland Trail, within the Boulder Creek drainage above the Ohanapecosh River, a park release said Saturday morning. Mount Rainier National Park search and rescue staff were assisted by staff from Olympic National Park and Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, and were deployed in two three-person teams. Search activities were to be reduced again Saturday, as the park transitions towards a limited continuous search effort, the release said.

This section of the Wonderland Trail is snow covered above 6,300 feet and patchy at other locations.

Last month another day hiker went missing in the park after failing to return from a hike in the Owyhigh Lakes Trail area on the east side of the mountain. The body of Karen Sykes, a locally known outdoor writer said to be working on a story about hiking in Mount Rainier when she went missing, was found two days later.

Source: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Crew ... -267167121

200,000'
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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by 200,000' » August 6th, 2014, 3:29 pm

Very little news. No leads or clues publically mentioned.
You have to wonder what became of this experienced, well equipped hiker?

Last update, July 24.

Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2014 3:32 pm
Associated Press
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK (AP) — Officials at Mount Rainier National Park are scaling back operations as a 64-year-old Tacoma hiker has been missing since July 12.

Deputy Superintendent Tracy Swartout says there’s still no sign of Edwin Birch, who went missing while hiking the popular 93-mile Wonderland Trail.

She says no air searches are planned. Some people on the ground are focusing on areas on the east side of the park.

Birch was last seen by his son on a Saturday as they hiked the Wonderland Trail, which loops Mount Rainier. They were doing a 19-mile day hike between Box Canyon and White River, starting from opposite ends.

The son saw his father at the midpoint, but when the son got back to their vehicle and went to pick up his father late Saturday night, he couldn’t find him.

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drm
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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by drm » August 6th, 2014, 3:36 pm

In a case like this, the most likely thing is that he saw something of interest off-trail and decided to check it out. Then either took a fall or suffered a medical emergency.

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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by pdxgene » August 6th, 2014, 8:20 pm

There's a similar story going on down at Crater Lake too. Someone was said to have fallen from the rim down towards the lake but no one is missing and they haven't been able to find the hiker that supposedly fell.

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Grannyhiker
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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by Grannyhiker » August 7th, 2014, 6:13 am

Panhandle Gap was reportedly completely under snow at the time, with tracks all over the place from people trying to find the trail. It would have been rather easy to miss the trail under those circumstances.

When my grandson and I were at Paradise the following Thursday, there was an ambulance parked there. I don't know if it's always there (considering the crowds) or if it was related to the search.

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drm
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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by drm » August 7th, 2014, 6:52 am

At Crater Lake, I think they are guessing that the person wasn't hurt and got up and out themselves and walked away. Some guesses that he may have been a PCT thru-hiker, but that just because he had a full beard. But they don't know for sure . . .

raftingdog
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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by raftingdog » August 7th, 2014, 6:59 am

on this trail is Summerland, where bear sightings are frequent ......

JBC
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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by JBC » August 18th, 2014, 5:53 pm

Panhandle gap is a very easy place to get lost. Often it is cloudy/foggy, the trail can be hard to follow in those conditions, add in snow cover and transiting the area is not a trivial undertaking.

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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by Waffle Stomper » August 20th, 2014, 6:24 am

Remember this story of the missing hiker/climber on Mt. St. Helens?

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Rema ... 81051.html
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Re: Strange Disappearance on Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Post by Lumpy » August 20th, 2014, 10:00 am

Grannyhiker wrote:When my grandson and I were at Paradise the following Thursday, there was an ambulance parked there. I don't know if it's always there (considering the crowds) or if it was related to the search.
I asked a ranger when I was there last weekend. It belongs to the park, and they usually park it there until needed. A "medic" is never very far away from it during the day when the park is most busy.
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