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Missing Backpacker Found Alive In Olympic National Park

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Published Date

August 8, 2021

Cheri Keller, who got separated from her backpacking companions, was found alive Sunday/NPS HO

A missing Washington woman was found alive in Olympic National Park on Sunday, four days after she became separated from her backpacking companions.

The search for Cheri Keller, 56, of Olympia, ended about 11 a.m. local time when a crew in a sheriff's department helicopter spotted her off trail in a basin to the east of Mt. Steele.

The helicopter was able to land and transport her to Sanderson Field Airport in Shelton, Washington. Keller then was transported in stable condition by ambulance to Mason County Hospital for evaluation.

Keller was reported missing on August 5. She was last seen by her backpacking group on August 4 around 11:30 a.m. near Home Sweet Home camp where the group of five had stopped for water.

Home Sweet Home is located 12 miles from the North Fork Skokomish Trailhead in the Staircase area of the park. 

The backpackers had a wilderness permit for August 1-5 to hike from the Duckabush trailhead over to Staircase via the North Fork Skokomish River Trail. Search and rescue personnel hiked into the wilderness from Staircase on Thursday to look for the woman.

No details explaining how Keller became separated from her group were provided by the park staff.

Map of search area

Arrows show the group's planned direction of travel. The red star indicates approximately where Keller was found on Sunday.



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Comments

Submitted by Anonymous on August 9, 2021 - 10:37am.

It's really nice to hear some GOOD news once in awhile.

 


Submitted by frank Hinde on August 17, 2021 - 12:22pm.

This why you never hike by yourself (we saw several people doing this when we were on the same trail the week before) and ALWAYS carry a personal locator beacon.. She would have been rescued a couple of hours tops after she realised she was lost. I am very glad she was found alive but this could have so easily gone the other way.. For $300 the PLB is a no brainer.


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