Something's Up... Why the Hell hasn't this missing PCT Hiker been found? 

I’m Kris’s cousin, this is amazing. Thank you so much for this video and keeping Kris’s story alive. 💕 Our whole family misses him every single day and have never stopped praying and looking for him. He is always in our hearts and I know one day we will find him. This video brought me to tears. Thank you so so so much for this. 🥺💕

I'm a hiker/backpacker (not a thru hiker) who found your channel via another of these missing hiker videos popping up in my algorithm. I'd love to see you keep doing these. it's an important reminder to keep myself and others on our toes a little bit when doing solo hikes. it's easy to become a little too confident and easy to forget how fragile we are as humans.. especially when the weather turns. Thank you for doing these videos!!!

Kyle….I’m Marsha Fowler, Kris’s aunt. Thank you for this video and keeping this story alive. I believe one day we will have answers but till then there is a hole in our hearts that only he can fill. I’m Glad you talked with Sally….she’s been beyond amazing since day one and has never given up and helped so many others while searching for Kris. Thank you again. I’ll be sharing this on my Facebook as well.

Hi, I'm a USPS mail handler in Central CA that dispatches the mail for Inyokern, CA. Anyways I see a lot of packages come thru for the PCT hikers, that they hold at the inyokern station. I personally make sure to to secure those packages so they don't get busted open in transit cuz I know it's going to help someone out there hiking. My prayers go out for this hiker and his family. I hope they find closure.

Hey Kyle! Thank you for sharing about Kris "Sherpa" Fowler and the Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation. Kris's mother Sally is a very close family friend and it is just heartbreaking there is not more information about Kris. I have had Sally on my podcast in addition to Cathy Tarr from the Fowler O'Sullivan Foundation. I wish that more hikers with platforms would share like yourself to get the word out there about Kris and the importance of hiker safety. The work the Foundation has been doing for the families of missing hikers on the PCT is amazing. Thank you again for sharing.

Thanks for sharing his story Kyle. As a search and rescue volunteer for over seven years in western Washington, this is more common than most people realize. Sometimes people go missing out there, and they are never found. That is the blunt truth unfortunately. It is my opinion that he is obviously off trail, and most likely due to a fall. The person's gear is on them in their pack, and they are unable to push the SOS button on their device for help. So if this is the case, and he cannot be seen from the trail due to brush/trees, the odds on him being located are unfortunately very low. I will leave you with one thing to think about, and this is not a bash on solo hikers whatsoever. I get it, I backpack too. I have never searched for two missing people, always one.

A women was declared missing in California, despite a massive hunt for her body (she went missing before a snowstorm in the mountains), nothing was found. When they did find her body is was

I met Sherpa on the trail in 2016 at the base of San jacinto. One thing I will say regarding the potential sightings, he wasn't a character you would easily forget. We only had a brief chat but I still remember him like yesterday. Tall, bearded, thick hemp necklace, chacos. No one else on trail looked like him. Dude hauled ass in those sandals too he blew right past me.

I live in Wenatchee and have backpacked and explored this area for 50 years. I remember that October storm it was early with deep snow. This is the first year in a long time that a hiker has not gone missing. These mountains are so remote and rugged, and in places the trail is on the crest of high peaks. More than likely Chris stepped off the side of a mountain. PCT hikers need to be in Canada by October first so they don't get caught in these storms and wear beacons so they can be found. I pray that his family finds closure.

I lived near White Pass for many years. Once you are a short distance away from the actual pass, there is no cell phone coverage. Also, if he became hypothermic, he could have wandered some distance away from the trail. People get disoriented in a storm and when they become hypothermic. We've heard of people being found dead, after having removed clothing during a storm. The best bet is that a hunter, not a hiker, will find him. That is what often happens. It's rugged, isolated country. Oh, and just for info, Chinook Pass is a seasonal highway and is closed during the winter, so it cannot be relied on if one manages to slog through a heavy snow to get there.

I used to hike alone but after hearing a lot of these missing peoples stories and they were usually alone hiking I made a decision not to hike if I am alone. Just doesn’t seem to be a good thing to do anymore. So sad for this family.Also the GPS device should always be carried and active. I pray they find him someday.

I've been hiking for 27 years. I've seen a lot of natural things and strange people on trails. Nature can be surprisingly bizarre. It occurred to me that this young man might have sought some kind of cave or large rock to take shelter near the path. Perhaps some large tree or rock fell and blocked his path out off the cave - or buried the young man. That would explain why nothing was found... And these things happen. Here in Brazil there was a very bizarre case of a boy who fell into a mighty river and ended up in a hole - but with air - under water, under a small waterfall. When the river receded he managed to get out and when he got home a few days later the family and friends were making his funeral with an empty coffin... The family was very scared but happy... The most bizarre thing is that he was with more people and everyone saw him disappear and then they did searches and nothing was found... The air bubble and strong water rapids noise prevented the people to listen his screams for help... And then he still appears at the wake itself. Then. In nature everything is possible...

My old friend's sibling went out for a dayhike in a much less strenuous place. After seeing his car in the day parking lot for three days, rangers called for a full SAR. The sibling's body was found at the base of a very steep deep cliff next to the trail. Apparently he had simply gotten too close to the edge, plunged down out of sight, and struck his head on the way down. If his car hadn't been at the trailed for too long, no one would have even known where to look. Incidentally, the FBI reports some quarter of a million missing persons reported and never found, every year. Good luck with Chris. Sign in and out of log books--they are for your safety.

Kyle, I wouldn't question your knowledge or experience. After all I randomly landed on this video. However it isnt unheard of for Search rescue members to be just mere feets away and not be able to see through the foilage. Likewise hikers to lose all sense of direction and take their last breath just meters away from the trail they were originally looking for. I recommend reading the Seattle times article on Rachel Lakoduk. It's an amazingly well-written, yet heartbreaking, story of the 2-year search and the volunteers that go out of their way (with its critics) to carry the torch when official capacities can only go so far with countless of new rescues and emergencies. I hope and pray that Kris and his family can someday find their peace and closure. Don't lose hope. 🙏

If the storm were severe enough, he may have become hypothermic/disoriented and gone off trail and may have fallen down a steep ravine where no hikers go. It's possible that he was carrying all of his gear at the time. A situation very similar to this (minus the hypothermia) happened to my cousin's cousin at Yosemite in August of 2000. Her name was Ruthanne Ruppert. The remains of a boot and her backpack were found down a steep ravine eight years after she was lost by two search and rescue dogs that were actually searching for another missing hiker and came across the items from Ruthie.

I think you're underestimating just how vast an area that is. He could be a few hundred yards off trail and nobody would know. If there was snow like you said its very easy to lose the trail. This type of thing isn't very unusual. There was an older woman who went missing on the Appalachian trail and it took a few years to find her still in her tent 400 yards off the trail. She even kept a journal while waiting for help. Search teams missed her camp by a few yards.

Hi Kyle, Thanks for raising awareness -this is very sad to hear as I absolutely love the trail. We will definitely keep an eye out for these guys. 💜🙏 A couple thoughts come to mind 1.We ran into a nasty snow storm on the JMT section one July and literally couldn't see the trail from snow cover, even tho it was clear just hours before. Just sat in the tent for 2 days and didn't see another person until 5 days later down the trail. So if something like this happened when Sherpa ventured into that storm, he may have gone off trail to seek shelter / less wind? and was injured or something? (but yes, not typical we would abandon the trail). 2. We have had a few run-ins with some sketchy locals; granted 95% have been very nice / hitch rides / trail angels, etc. but had some weird stuff too (in WA State mind you). There seemed to be some resentment for sure, as the trail has gotten so busy in the last decade. Always have to keep your guard up and definitely recommend hiking with at least one other person. Peace, El Fiasco

I live by a section of the PCT and have talked to a number of hickers. I was completely shocked by the high percentage of them that had no clue on how to navigate useing a map and compass, they 100% relied on a GPS device. Being retired U.S. Army Infantry, I know a bit about land nav and to NOT rely on electronic devices, which can fail without warning, to keep track of your location. My advice, if you can't adequately and reliable land navigate with a map and compass both day and night, you have no business being in the "wilderness", period.

I know some people don't seem to enjoy these videos but I'm all for it! Not only does it spread the word to hopefully find missing hikers and bring closure to their families but it also can help people learn from other hikers stories so hopefully they don't find themselves in similar situations.

Kyle, do you remember when rocks and dirt came down while you were on a very narrow piece of trail? If you were alone and had been swept down the slope, would you have been found? I think this is why people should not hike alone.

Farmers going out to their own barns in snowstorms have disappeared, never to be seen again. Our garage, which is not that far from our house has dissappear from sight during snowstorms. Our woodshed is attached behind and we always make sure we have enough wood in the house and we also have an emergency case right on the front porch when we know a storm is coming. Trying to go out there in a snowstorm could land you who knows where.

Maybe he doesn't want to be found. Went off grid and living off the land. But his family would know if that was his style, or dream. I imagine there are bears and mountain lions in those forests. Watch some bear videos and see how bears are an occasional hunk of bad reality. I hope he surfaces to tell us an amazing story. I wish I could have done some of this kind of hiking in my youth, when I had energy. Paying child support kind of locked me into staying close to a reliable full time job. People, do some living before getting trapped on the hamster wheel. Being a father has a brought me incredible joy, but it's a great responsibility that requires sacrifice. Kids cost money. Free of needing money is the start of real freedom.

I'm a firm believe in Occam's Razor. Removing all unknowns and hyptheticals will give you your answer. He headed out in a storm, got lost, disoriented and possibly hypothermic and died of exposure. This is very similar to what just happened here in NH with Emily. All the crazy sh*t people came up with was ridiculous. The truth was she got lost/hypothermic, wandered off trail and succumbed to the elements.

I live in a city in Norway where every year there is a hike that goes by all the summits surrounding the city. And each year several thousands people participate to that hike. This year, the hike took place last Sunday, and that day I went for a short walk on a summit nearby. And I was really surprised that despite being less than 500m from the hike and having a direct view on it, I could barely see or hear anyone because of the trees hiding people and deadening the sounds. I am not surprise someone can disappear in the woods, despite having all of their hiking gear with them

We’ll be hiking the Oregon and Washington sections of the PCT this year. We will definitely keep an eye out. Great job with this video.

There's Bill Ewasko, Joshua Tree NP. He went missing late June 2010, found by accident February 2022. His remains were found far from where SAR people thought he would be found. Outside is a big place. ATB, hope he is found, and returned to his family.

Kris missing is one thing.. but not finding any of his gear is another .. curious as to if he was carrying a gun or weapon of some sort … because I do .. everyone should while hiking, whether for bear , mountain lions or whatever … the woods / forest etc can be beautiful.. even therapeutic… but there’s always the danger element.. whether it be wild animals… or even worse , evil human beings…. Praying that Kris will show back up one day with an interesting story.

I was always surprised he was at white pass so late in the season. Mid-October Washington weather is sketch. It can change and deteriorate very, very quickly.

Well since 1988 there have been 16000 people that have gone missing in Alaska. Sometimes it takes years before any remains are found.

Thanks for raising awareness about Kris and for the great work the FOF is doing. Prayers to Sally. She’s a fierce advocate for hiker safety!

This gives me uncomfortable feelings .. I’ve seen “random” gear ditched before on trails and thought twice like hmm that’s weird but then kept on walking. I wonder how many other people do the same 😢 we should I guess normalize making a big deal out of nothing because you never know right?!

I always carry a 0 degree mummy bag and waterproof gortex bivey that zips up around the sleeping bag. Really not that much extra weight and gets small in a compression sack. I can sleep in a snow bank if I need to right out in the elements. I think it's crazy not to especially in those areas

I leapfrogged and sometimes camped with Kris in 2016 as we headed North on the PCT. There were a handful of issues with how the search was conducted, a primary one being that "bear hunters" claimed to have seen him in an area that is way beyond the scope of where he was capable of getting to given the storm and his circumstances, resulting in search resources being placed in the wrong area. The bear hunters’ story was then disproven when pictures on their FB profiles placed them at a football game the dates they had their "sighting", but long after the fact. I moved to Portland in 2018 for the sole purpose of searching for Kris, but I only got a fraction of the routes I had intended to do done ... the area was too large and my resources were too small. I was unable to get the main search group to share their GPS tracks so myself and others could insure we weren't wasting our time walking routes already walked, so my hope is that those issues have been resolved for the sake of finding Kris. I believe Kris will be found, hopefully sooner rather than later.

I follow his disappearance since 2916. I firmly believe that he got caught up in the storm and left the trail due hypothermia. As far as I know he hiked in sandals, also he lost weight due the long hike he already did. I’m from Alaska and we lose every year a lot of people to hypothermia. It comes fast and silent. I know of people who got hypothermia after a short summer rain. His decision to hike on besides the severe warnings and not using his InReach shows that he wasn’t aware how dangerous the situation could be. One of the first symptoms is that people get disoriented and making irrational decisions. Maybe he went of trail, or wandered along a other trail. The problem is we apply common sense when we start to search for someone but the the missing person with hypothermia didn’t. He can be off trail just for a mile and the chance to be found in this area is zero. Also people don’t go fast being in a snowstorm. My feeling tells me he didn’t made it miles down the trail. Just remember Geraldine was under 2 miles from the trail and it took years to find her. I really hope one day there will be answer for the family. Nothing is worse than not to know.

when you said he was known to hitch hike a red flag went off for me. could be a possible reason he and esp his gear has not been found. many cases at least the gear was found but to have nothing is Def strange. he could have been abducted.

I haven't hiked this section but if it's similar to sections to the north, I slipped off the trail lined with berry bushes. The down slope was a cliff and I needed assistance to return to the trail. There wasn't anywhere to get a foothold. I probably would have fallen a long distance and been buried under those bushes if I had to drop. This was not due to snow or ice but due to trail that was slipping off the contour.

I left the trail on October 12t,2016 @ Stevens Pass. The previous 4-5 days was really rainy & flooding. I spent nearly 3 days in my tent prior to the 30 year cyclone storm that dumped almost 3-4 ft of snow. I would’ve been screwed if I hadn’t pushed nearly 20 miles to get out to the pass. I made it to the road with No Food. I learned about Chris not too long after

Great job covering this strange event. This section is an hour from my home. We here in Yakima know the story well. Many of us have walked every sidetrail & space where one could a ride out a storm…no evidence of him whatsoever. It’s incredibly perplexing. My “gut” leans towards the Greenwater scenario. Sherpa wouldn’t have needed to get all the way to Chinook Pass either. There is a “bail out” trail halfway between the passes that leads to highway 123 and a quick hitch into Greenwater. The whole thing is so surreal….

Unfortunately this happens way too much in these national parks, we've had a few missing hunters that were found but both had sad endings and very suspicious. I pray they find him and he's okay.

I think there is a hidden threat in many of the western mountainous areas. There are numerous old abandoned mines. They have airshafts and sinkholes which develop into the mine due to water and collapses. Many of these mines may never have been properly documented. I can even see situations in which some miners dig into another's claim area and fail to document that activity. Someone could slide into one of these hidden shafts with their backpack and equipment and become asphyxiated as they become crushed between the walls. While I assume there is a process the state and federal agencies go through to identify and render these old mines safe, some of these hazards might be missed. There are also natural voids and crevasses in mountains. If someone went down one of these would search parties really notice? These areas may be covered by vegetation. I'm not sure how to properly probe for and eliminate these. They could explain the quick and complete disappearance of people. The mountain swallows them up.

I hiked in 2016 and always found this story interesting. I never knew about the two other sightings, and they do seem more credible. However, having no credit card or cell phone activity in either towns seems super unusual. You know as a hiker that as soon as you get into a town you are going to turn on your phone. And especially at Mazama, he would have definitely got something to eat. I do hope one day he is found. Also, if you have ever hiked with any significant amount of snow on the ground, it can be very easy to lose the trail, or think you are hiking on the trail when you are not.

I heard solo hiker, in a storm, who hitchhikes. I do not think this case is too hard to guess what may have happened, unfortunately.

I think he was definitely the man from the bar that denied the free meal. He most likely had hitched a ride and his ride was waiting outside for him an he had no time to wait for a meal. Himself and his gear have not been found because he was murdered while hitching a ride on the highway.

I'd love to hike a trial like this one day. But these stories are the reason I wont be doing it alone.

I'm suprised we never heard of him. We live close to Greenwater, camping and visiting that area & their bar/restaurant alot. It's 1of my favorite places to escape too... Seeing this reminded me of a homeless man we met this last summer of "2022". On our way to the shooting range a blonde haired man stopped us to ask for a smoke. We made small talk and he tried to sell us a diy cigar/blunt or cigg snuffer he'd made out of large shotgun shells. I notice his tent (which was similar colors as the tent shown here) because it was really big for 1person... We spent about 2 weeks camping out there this trip and saw his tent every time we drove by. Probably not the same guy but eerie none the less looking back. Very nice man. I remember being suprised and impressed at his posative attitude while homeless. I couldn't help but admire his lack of shame and happiness. I thought, "if I ever go homeless, I'd wanna live out here fishing too bud"... Prayers for this hiker and his family🙏🏼

Coincidentally I'm headed over to that area next week, weather permitting. I typically backpack in the Olympic National forest and wanted a change. I noticed on the WTA site that Kris was last seen October 12, 2016 in Packwood, which is SW of Chinook Pass and at the foot of Mt. Rainer. I cannot fathom having a loved on go missing. I'll definitely keep Kris on my mind when I'm over there.

Here’s the fucked up thing that I think about missing hikers.. I live in the upper peninsula of Michigan… anywayzzz. There are a bunch of people that are labeled “missing” on the NCT. I think these folks just don’t want to be found. They are out… They have left the chat. That’a my take…

This is a grim comment but it is most likely they will never find a trace of him. this sounds awfully a lot like the missing 411

Not knowing where he is has to be his family's worst nightmare. As a hiker myself this is scary and sad. I hope he's found so his family can be at peace. I live in Washington and the weather in the mountains can change on a dime.

Folks get a personal locator beacon. And I don’t mean a spot. I mean a real personal locator beacon made by ACR. There is no monthly fee for these the batteries last five years they work anywhere in the world they’re part of a worldwide search and rescue Netwerk. The spot is severely under power. Not to mention he didn’t even have a subscription. That’s the problem with that you have to pay for a monthly subscription do your research please with one push of a button he could’ve been rescued if you had the right device, and I don’t mean a satellite communicator either they’re under powered as well, the ACR brand has a full 5 watts of power. You may need this power to get out from the snow covered canopy or if you’re deep in the canyon.

My friends, I know hiking a trail like this is a achievement to do alone. But, never hike alone or without protection. When your alone you become a target, and not just from humans.

I'm a local hiker and think often about what might have happened to Sherpa. Thanks for bringing attention to his story.

We were planning to go back packing / hiking up by Goat rocks when Kris disappeared. After reading about this we decided against going up there. It was too weird. He isn't the only one missing.

Thanks Kyle, this is a sad story. Things can be lost forever not far off the trail. I've camped a few places not far off trail, where I knew if something happened to me, I probably would never be found. The O'Sullivan story is really distressing as the whole hiking community was denying he was lost while his family in Ireland were frantic to find out what was going on.

This makes name wanna develop a silicone water resistant bracelet that pings every hour your last location. Maybe could get a week-4 weeks of battery life. Wireless Recharging to keep it water proof tight. Maybe make monthly/yearly subscription plans to help cover the custom website with tracking. This would probably help significantly

My heart breaks that a reason this man hasn't been found could be because a basic necessity was hidden behind a pay wall. An SOS button that you need a subscription for? Are we that heartless?

Outstanding job, Kyle! You obviously have a real talent for this kind of storytelling. I hope you keep it up.

Thank you for all your work into this case I wish there was coverage like this for all the MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS MEN AND WOMEN across Turtle Island. Hope all people are found 🙏

It's pronounced Shin Hook but with a silent H. Chinook describes a conglomerate of native tribes of the Pacific Northwest that all spoke a similar dialect, the Chinook dialect. Some of their people's are subsumed under the Grand Ronde tribes of Oregon and they are a currently underrepresented Native group despite their history being woven into important pieces of Pacific Northwestern history. Apart from Chinook pass, a species of Pacific salmon also share the same namesake in a similar vein. So yeah it's "shin ook" - pronounced like "hook" or "book". I remember seeing Sherpa's missing person signs when I went through that area of the PCT in 2021 but I never found any of his gear either.

If he built a shelter out of branches or climb into a hollowed out log it would be very hard to find him and his gear if he passed while trying to stay warm....

Thanks. For the update. I hiked the pct that year but ended my hike at shelter cove. I've Been following Chris's case. I too find it odd that not a trace has been found of him.

Very respectful video by the way both of them have been. I really enjoy this content. And I think it's really awesome. You're keeping awareness up for some of these missing people. Thank you! Keep up the great work!!!

Nice to see someone choose topics that could help society. Well done.

Locking an SOS function behind a subscription is disgusting and murderous

Have family in that area. Been looking for Sherpa all around there. Great video. He allegedly stayed in a trailer on someone’s property. But to leave the area is strange.

I know a lotta of us may not be able to afford personal locating devices but geeesh it seems like it’s something that every hiker that is out for long hikes MUST use one. The amount of missing people with little to no trace is alarming tk sayvthe least. I hope he is located soon

Being in Washington during a storm in mid-October is no joke. And the trail can definitely get obscured by snow. I could definitely see wandering pretty far off trail without necessarily realizing it, then getting disoriented and not being able to make your way back. I hope his family gets closure and that he is found one day. ❤

Just a thought. The last time I went to Naches I pulled off the road to relive myself. It was dark and I nearly stepped off a cliff that dropped at least 70 feet. There's no sign and at night if you're walking and not paying attention it's quite possible to just plum walk off the world. The spot I believe is up the road on the right side. I wonder if that precipice has been checked?

There are personal locator beacons without subscription plans available. They normally only can send an SOS, but if one does not need the communication features they are a cheper alternative for safety.

Maybe he isn’t in that area. Maybe he made it further then thought and was lost off trail else where🤷‍♀️

I think most disappearances are probably caused by the simplest and most mundane circumstances. For instance, walking just a bit off trail to seek shelter under a tree or in a cave and then getting lost or injured. That said, missing hiker stories are also some of the most tragic and perplexing mysteries. I hope there is some resolution to this disappearance soon.

I think it's great that you are keeping this story alive but I also think you underestimate just how difficult it is to find the remains of someone in these wilderness areas, for a variety of reasons. You have to look no further than the case of Geraldine Largay who went missing along the AT in Maine less than 2 miles from the trail. Despite an extensive search she was not found for two years and then only by chance. Then there is David O'Sullivan who vanished near Idyllwild. You combine a fall down a sttep slope and wild animals and the lack of a precise location to search and its no wonder than these hikers have not been found, sadly.

PLB Personal locator beacon, invest in one, I always have it, text devices are not for emergencies, SOS same, just a powerful. PLBs operate in the 406 MHz spectrum range, thats like a lighting bolt straight to the heavens.

theres multiple stories of people who live on the pct following people and coming for them in the night.. the pct goes through states with bad drug habits and homelessness.

Kyle, the Greenwater Naches Tavern sighting makes the most sense. It is the closest community to Chinook pass (rhymes w/rook). I live close to Greenwater, there is almost non existent cell coverage from William O’Douglas wilderness area to & including the very small community of Greenwater. The Greenwater store is small and is not an ideal resupply and closes early. It is possible that Sherpa tried to hitchhike further to Enumclaw where there is cell coverage and large grocery stores. This is another 20 miles west and may be a logical progression. Mike

Just came across your video. This is odd. Another weird one is David O'Sullivan who came from Ireland to hike and mysteriously disappear also

Great video, Kyle. I'm enjoying this series and hope you continue to make more videos like this.

in the south we say Chinook as in "Shhhh-Nook" as in book lol *Theory Disclaimer* With the gusts of wind and a storm if there are any ledges along the pass it's likely he could have lost his balance and fallen or been struck by something and fell with it, That would explain his gear still being with him and thus not recovered. I would definitely expand the search to area's below any inclines off trail. I've been known in my past to brave a storm before not knowing how bad bad truly is and slip in certain regions and then have no where to set up camp and have to keep "trekking", this would explain the bar tenders story. After an ordeal like that however I'd dry out my belongings, wash them and get some much needed rest in town before heading back out unless I was so very pressed to finish on time but even then it would be highly unlikely I'd go back without at least changing and drying off first. Packages can be somewhat traced as well with the USPS even at least to an arrival point/last documented point. If it didn't arrive that's one thing but missing does sound like he may have received it or someone else did using his name. I Definitely think logs should be kept in the future to help out any other families of missing people. It's so very sad, thank you for covering these videos it really does raise awareness.

Kyle, what you've done for this family is a beautiful gift. I pray that somehow, someone will discover the truth behind his disappearance. That'd you'd take your time and effort to help is so wonderful. You're so helpful.

Comment for the algorithm 😊 Reviewing these cases is a great thing, I’m sure the families of hikers appreciate your support.

It's surprising another hiker didn't see him. If a bear got him, his gear would still be around. If he made it to Chinook, did someone take him in? And then, not let him go?

I wouldn’t be surprised if the hunters oversold their I didn’t do it vibe when they probably did do it

Although I am an elderly pensioner who has never hiked I find the stories you tell heartbreaking but interesting the way you tell them and also learning about these extraordinary mountain areas. You are basically warning hikers about lots of things. Very good. But if you want to grow your subscribers may I suggest you take out the word "hates" from your title, it's deep negativity is causing a stumbling block to forward movement.

I remember this story. I live in Seattle and i've been a PCT trail angel here for many years. If I remember correctly he left White Pass heading north. A female PCT hiker also did the same, but they weren't together. The weather was nasty and alot of snow was coming down. If I remember correctly she turned around and luckily made it back to White Pass. She was reported missing, but again walked out on her own. Chris was never seen again. It doesn't take much snow to cover the trail. He could've had an accident only 100 feet off the trail and may never be seen again. The chance of leaving the trail at that exact spot and finding his gear is low. Chinook.... it's the name of a salmon. Chinook salmon.

If I remember correct the trail crosses a dirt road in that section and u have to follow it for a little bit and the trail reappears to the right. Very easy to miss, even on a clear day.

When we pass through Palm Springs on the I - 10 you can see San Jacinto and San Gorgonio peak and The PCT goes through those frightening mountains I can’t imagine how difficult it is to navigate at night & in a snow storm 🌨️

There are multiple reports of missing, solo, experienced hikers, missing every year. Some are found, some are not. Established trails don’t mean safe in the wilderness. Bad weather, deadfall trees and branches, rockfalls, etc. Then there’s the others on or near the trail factor. So he had a Spot GPS locator but didn’t activate it🤨.

Based on the fact he often hitchhiked, and that locals in that area have some sort of resentment towards thru hikers, it's possible he is not lost on the trail and someone did something to him while hitching. Hence, no gear being found.

If you can't find him, you're not going to find his stuff...right? He would have it with him, wouldn't he? The stuff is with him, you can't find him, you can't find his stuff. I'm not a hiker. I know nothing about it...there may be some things they do that I don't know about but it's seems like common sense to me. Perhaps Sherpa has just "run away"? People do that sometimes. Whatever the case, I can't imagine not knowing where your child is so I pray mom finds some answers soon. It's a beautiful thing that so many are out there looking and trying to help. Thanks to all of you. And thanks for this channel helping too.

1st b4 anything else, let me say to Kris' family & loved ones how sorry I am for the grief & longing I know they must be going through. I pray that they get the answers they need to put the agony they currently feel to rest. Anything else I might say is NOT any kind of hatefulness or negativity thrown at Kris or them but is born of over 40 years of investigative study & obsession. The 2 questions I have over any mystery are what & why? Most often it's by answering the 2nd question that we get an answer to the 1st. The most intriguing thing you said in this video (very well done & I subbed btw) is that he was known for hitchhiking. That is the kind of information that can help to answer the 2nd question. I have no judgment about any kind of personal proclivities to make at all. So he was up for hitchhiking, so what? Heaven knows I have my own quirks; personal quirks are what makes life & the living of it worth the effort. It sounds as if Kris grabbed himself a big ol' armful of life & went for it! Good for him!! Still, it's those habits, those tendencies, that get us to the why of a mystery. It's why the cops ask, or should've asked, about sexual orientation, current & past love partners, current & past employment & employers & current or past friends who knew him/her well. The truth about a person's intimate adult life is often not known to close family but close friends. Did the person in general get along w/ other ppl or did s/he keep mostly to him/herself? And the controversial info, did the missing person carry any self defense tool on his/her person? If so, was s/he trained in it's use? Would s/he have been willing to use it? I pray Kris' family were asked these questions & others like them by law enforcement. Having been married n2 it for awhile & sad to say but there often IS a lot of judgment in the leo community & even sadder it can affect how much effort is put into a case. If any of his family believe a less than thorough job of investigation has occurred I'd encourage them to fill out the necessary complaint now but save the bulk of what energy they have left for the continuing search. I'd strongly suggest purchasing the service of a private investigator even if only for a week. If s/he is former law enforcement so much the better. I know it can be expensive though. The area is close enough to the border you've got to include the possibility, remote though it is, that Canadian officials should be advised. You can do worse than having the RCMP on your side. Lastly, I promise, is this: that's big forest country up there, you need somebody familiar with it. A Mick Dodge type. Familiar with the interior like he's familiar nearer the coast. And after all this time, knowing the terrain of their search, I can't believe leo's would not have already contacted such a person. Anyhow, sorry for the long winded ramble. Peace & Blessings to Kris' family, to this channel & to the world entire. It's a crazy place these days

Chinook is pronounced “shin ook”

Crazy to think a 15$ subscription to the spot sat service would have saved his life. I always carry one with me. I always wondered if this sort of thing would happen where a measly 15$ subscription keeps you from using your device to save you life?!!?!!

I don't hike...I ride dirt/adventure motorcycles often times in remote areas alone...always have my Garmin Inreach with me. Think about how many lives this thing could save and how many missing hikers would be found. Here's an idea...maybe not practical but hear me out...on the PCT and other major trails would it be possible to have a system of check-ins every so many miles...like a small solar powered device where each hiker could check in with a card key or something. That way we would know approximately where they went missing and concentrate a search. I don't know just an idea.

I hiked, leaped frogged and hung out at the THC with sherpa in 2016. I got off trail at white pass a couple of days before he came thru. I hope one day Sally and his family gets answers for his disappearance.

Have they looked into the people from the last unconfirmed sighting where his package never arrived or was picked up? Seems fishy.

Is there a stream or river that could have swept him away?

Randomly found this page, im not a hiker like that, but have hiked before. The SOS think he mentioned, the guy needed a subscription!??Thats ridiculous. I think in emergency situations, a subscription shouldnt even matter

So many folks who cover some of these missing 411ish stories forget the folks they talk about have families who are still looking and still hurting. You didn’t. Very well done.

I am from Australia, and we don't have permits from what I gather you guys have to get a permit before doing a hike. Could perhaps a prerequisite be a gps rescue subscription and unit that could possibly be hired before you get a permit. Does your permit system just work to limit the amount of people to try and relieve the pressure on the trail and nature. Anyway another cool vid keep it going. Ray.

I think the hitch-hiking should be looked into further... What if he was picked up, and the driver did something to him, and took his gear?