Searchers, aided by several dog teams, yesterday located and recovered the body of missing hiker James Thomas Griffin in very rugged terrain near the Boulder Creek trailhead, Olympic National Park officials said Monday morning. Griffin, 60, of Port Angeles was the subject of an intensive five-day search that began on Christmas Eve, December 24.
Griffin’s remains were found by a search dog team in a very steep, rugged and densely forested area about a third of mile and nearly 1,000 vertical feet above the trail. An investigation at and around the scene showed no indications of foul play or wildlife interactions.
Griffin, 60 years old, was last seen by other hikers about 4pm Monday, December 22 at Olympic Hot Springs. He was reported missing on December 24 when he did not arrive at a Christmas Eve dinner as planned.
Griffin’s daypack was found on Dec. 25 about a half-mile from the trailhead. Despite the five-day search involving over 20 people and several search dog teams, no other clues were located until Sunday.
Griffin’s body was transferred to a funeral home late yesterday.
Six dog teams from the all-volunteer group German Shepherd Search Dogs searched on Saturday; two teams searched Sunday.
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