WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. (Gray News) – A hiker who went missing near the North Cascades National Park was found alive about a month after he was last seen.
Robert Schock was reported missing shortly after national park staff notified Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies that they had found an abandoned car at the trailhead, and a dog alone eight miles in the trail on Aug. 3.
Deputies confirmed that the dog was his and reported Schock’s wallet was found on the dashboard of the car, which had all the windows rolled down.
Schock was reportedly last seen on July 31 by hikers in the area near the Hannegan trailhead, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said. The hikers reported that he didn’t appear to have the equipment needed for overnight hiking or camping.
Sheriff’s deputies, park rangers and search and rescue teams were all notified of Schock’s disappearance.
In the proceeding days, park rangers and deputies conducted several extensive ground searches in the area, covering the area along Easy Creek and up to Hannegan Pass.
A helicopter search was also conducted by park rangers and deputies, but Schock was not found.
On Aug. 16, the U.S. Border Patrol got involved and conducted their own air search of the Chilliwack Basin as well as a ground search, however, they didn’t find any signs of Schock.
Then, on Aug. 30, nearly a month after Schock was last seen, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office received a notice from the National Park Service that Schock had been found “alive and well” in the Chilliwack Basin.
No further details on Schock’s rescue were provided by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Gray Media has reached out to the National Park Service for a comment.
A report from a local news outlet, The Cascadia Daily, said a trail crew working on the trail found Schock after they heard the man’s cries for help.
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