Authorities reported that two men were found deceased in a southwestern Washington forest on Saturday, where they had gone missing the previous week while on a quest to find Sasquatch.
The bodies of the men, aged 37 and 59, were located after a three-day search operation in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, as stated by the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office. Preliminary reports indicate that their deaths were likely due to exposure, with officials noting that they appeared to be inadequately prepared for the severe cold weather.
While the men have not been publicly identified, the sheriff confirmed they hailed from Portland, Oregon. They had been missing since early Christmas morning, prompting a search that began around 1 a.m. on December 25 after a family member reported their absence. Surveillance footage captured their vehicle close to Willard, Washington.
Over the course of three days, around sixty volunteer search-and-rescue personnel undertook a challenging search in harsh weather conditions, utilizing both ground and aerial assistance. The bodies were ultimately discovered in a densely wooded area of the forest, with officials concluding that exposure was the likely cause of death, given the adverse weather and the men’s apparent lack of adequate preparation.
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is located approximately 150 miles northeast of Portland. The search-and-rescue efforts involved collaboration among several sheriff’s offices, including those from Skamania, Klickitat, Wasco, and Hood River, as well as search-and-rescue teams from Silver Star, PNW, Crag Rats, and the US Coast Guard.
