OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Searchers confirmed today (Thursday) that a backpack found in the Olympic Hot Springs Trail area belongs to a missing hiker but found no other sign of him.
The search was called off as night fell but will resume on Friday for Jim Griffin, 60, of Port Angeles, who was reported overdue on Christmas Eve after he reportedly left for a day hike Monday.
The backpack “is helpful information in that it will be a way to help guide and focus the search tomorrow,” said Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park spokeswoman, today.
The search is expected to resume early Friday morning.
Friends of Griffin reported him overdue when he did not arrive at a dinner party when expected, Maynes said.
His car was found parked at the Olympic Hot Springs trail head.
“It’s a 2½ mile walk into the hot springs,” Maynes said.
“We understand that this is a place he enjoys going to quite a bit.”
No photo of him was immediately available. Maynes said park officials are seeking one.
Three people searched Wednesday night, Maynes said.
They began at about 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., she said, and spent the night in the field before searching until noon on Christmas Day.
After noon today, two teams of two people looked for Griffin until dark, Maynes said.
