Search underway for overdue hiker in Olympic National Park

Published 9:47 am Thursday, March 20, 2014

A search is in progress for a solo hiker who is overdue from a planned day hike in Olympic National Park.

According to park officials, David Snidder, 55, of Union, had planned to hike on Monday, May 7, along the Irely Lake Loop Trail.

Olympic National Park dispatch received a report from the Olympic National Forest that Snidder was reported overdue to them on Wednesday morning. Contact with the reporting party was made at 10:50 a.m. by Park Law Enforcement personnel.

Snidder’s vehicle was located at the North Fork Campground on Wednesday.

Snidder is described as a capable hiker with previous experience in mountainous and snowy terrain.  He is believed to be traveling with a daypack and basic essentials.

An initial “hasty” search began Wednesday afternoon. On May 10, eight ground searchers from Olympic National Park continued the search and were aided by a helicopter. Clues, believed to be left by Snidder, were located by a ground search team Thursday afternoon.

About 16 ground searchers, including eight technical rescue team members from Olympic Mountain Rescue, along with a German Shepherd search dog with its handler from Pierce County, and a helicopter will continue to search the area today.

For Friday, search efforts are concentrated in the area between Irely Lake and Reflection Lake, which is steep and rugged terrain.