Sequim resident Mike Shaw, 68, is safe after a three-day hunting trip-turned-ordeal in the Sitkum River Watershed east of Forks.

According to a Clallam County Sheriff’s Department report, Shaw entered the South Fork of the Sitkum River about 16 miles up the Forest Service 29 Road east of Forks on Sunday, Nov. 6. His plan was to hike about 1.5 miles in the Rugged Ridge area and come out below where his vehicle was parked.

At some point during the hike, the report states, Shaw became disorientated and failed to make it out. 

On Monday, Nov. 7, Mr. Shaw used his cell phone and spoke to his wife and to other friends stating he became disoriented and that he would be out soon.

But by the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 8, Shaw hadn’t returned to his vehicle. That morning, a friend of Shaw’s reported to the Sheriff’s Office that he had still not come out of the woods.

West end Deputies were able to locate Shaw’s entry point and his parked vehicle where he was to exit.

Later, Shaw again used his cell phone and spoke with a 9-1-1 operator from Peninsula Communications.

he dispatcher was able to obtain a GPS coordinate from the cell phone call that pinpointed the hiker’s location.

At about 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, Shaw successfully hiked out and to a friend’s vehicle on his own. In good spirits and health, Shaw was found with a survival kit containing food, emergency survival blanket and other necessities that assisted in his two-night stay in the woods.