Missing hiker found dead in Olympic National Park

An investigation is underway after a 26-year-old hiker was found dead in a national park in Washington state, authorities said.

Search and rescue teams found Neil Gehring's body at the northwest slope of Mt. Appleton in Olympic National Park on Sunday, Sept. 13, the National Park Service said in a news release. The discovery came nearly two weeks after he set out to hike from nearby Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass.

“Searchers located Gehring after receiving and analyzing additional cell phone location data,” the park service said in the press release. “Gehring was transferred to the Clallam County Coroner’s Office at approximately 8 p.m. on September 13.”

Gehring died of extensive blunt trauma of the head, torso and limbs, the Clallam County Coroner has confirmed.

The park service declined to provide additional information when reached by USA TODAY, citing the active investigation.

Gehring was from Massachusetts, Clallam County Coroner Rebecca Shankles told USA TODAY on Sept. 17.

He left the Madison Falls Trailhead in Olympic National Park on Aug. 31, the park service said in the news release.

According to his backcountry permit, Neil wanted to travel from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass. He was supposed to return to the…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/