OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Officials Wednesday recovered the body of a climber reported missing in Olympic National Park late Monday.
Port Angeles resident Sean Allen, 38, was reported missing late Monday evening, according to a press release from Olympic National Park, which said he had a wilderness permit for last Saturday through Monday and was traveling solo.
According to park spokesman Penny Wagner, helicopter crews, “spotted Allen on the southern end of Mount Mystery approaching the Del Monte ridge line. The helicopter was able to drop off a search team on the ground. The team performed the recovery operation with helicopter support.”
Allen’s body was taken to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Wagner said.
Helicopter operations were completed at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Had wilderness permit
His intended route was from Royal Basin to Home Lake and his itinerary included potential climbing attempts at Mount Mystery, Hal Foss Peak and Little Mystery, Wagner said.
Search and Rescue personnel hiked into the wilderness on Tuesday to begin a hasty search of the area after Allen was reported missing.
The National Park Service exclusive-use contract helicopter from North Cascades National Park also was activated to assist with the search on Tuesday.
Search teams from Olympic National Park and Olympic Mountain Rescue assisted, covering routes from the Upper Dungeness Trail and around Royal Basin.
The state Search and Rescue Planning Unit assisted with the search and additional resources are being coordinated.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at psegall@soundpublishing.com
