PORT TOWNSEND – A lieutenant and emergency medical technician with East Jefferson Fire-Rescue who spent the night lost in the cold and damp in Olympic National Park was found tired but in good health on Friday afternoon, park officials reported.
Curt Kilgore was found safe in the Sol Duc Valley along the North Fork Sol Duc River in Olympic National Park at 12:45 p.m. Friday, said Barb Maynes, park spokeswoman.
Kilgore was not available to talk about his overnight experience in the wilderness.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue Chief Mike Mingee said that he was expected to return to work today at the Lawrence Street fire station where he is C Platoon supervisor.
Mingee said Kilgore has been with the department for about 10 years.
“From what I hear, he’s fine,” Mingee said.
“He’s an ex-GI, so he probably just hunkered down for the night.”
Mingee expressed gratitude for Olympic National Park’s search efforts.
“We had every confidence that the park staff would conduct a thorough and professional search, and they are to be commended,” he said.
Kilgore went fishing Thursday afternoon with two friends along the North Fork Sol Duc River in the park’s northern area, about 30 miles west of Port Angeles, Maynes said.
The section of river they were fishing is remote and accessible only by trail, according to the park’s report.
The three began their fishing and hiking trip at the North Fork Sol Duc trailhead, about a mile south of Salmon Cascades along Sol Duc Road.
They planned to fish and walk downstream along the river about three miles, to the point where it meets the Sol Duc Road.
