By VENICE BUHAIN, THE OLYMPIAN
The search for a state worker and former U.S. Army paratrooper believed to be lost hiking continues today, nine days after he parked his car at Staircase Ranger Station in Olympic National Park.
Ranger Mike Gurling said there is reason to hope Gilbert Gilman, 47, will be found alive despite few clues about which direction he was headed and more than a week’s passing after he was seen in the parking lot.
He had little more than the clothes on his back, a camera and possibly two water bottles.
“I’ll cite an example in 1997: An individual was gone for 11 days, and on the 11th day, he was found in the Elwha Valley,” Gurling said.
“He sort of found himself. He knocked on the door of a ranger station and said, ‘Are you looking for me?’ “
A park expert with a knack for finding lost hikers joined about 60 searchers looking for Gilman off the trail Sunday, concentrating on a 35-square-mile area.
Retired Ranger Jack Hughes, who worked in Olympic National Park for more than 40 years, has found more lost hikers during his career than any ranger in the park.
“He has a lot of experience, and he has the ability to see things in the terrain that others miss . . . knowing the topography as well as he does.” Gurling said.
Riding in a helicopter, Hughes spotted some party balloons in a forested area that other searchers had missed, Gurling said.
“It’ s important to keep a set of fresh eyes up there.” he said.
