HURRICANE RIDGE — A snowboarder who had been missing since Saturday was found in good condition below the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center on Sunday, Olympic National Park officials said.
The 30-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y., man, who was not named by park officials, was able to snowshoe back to the visitor center with assistance from a search and rescue team, park spokeswoman Penny Wagner said.
“He was found in good condition after spending the night in temperatures ranging in the low 30s,” Wagner said in a Monday news release.
“He sustained minor injuries and after being given food and water he was able to snowshoe back up to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center with assistance from the team.”
The man was last seen taking the intermediate rope tow at the Hurricane Ridge Ski Area.
He was reported missing by his girlfriend at 4:30 p.m. Saturday after he did not return from snowboarding.
“Park rangers and employees of the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club searched for three hours before it became too dangerous to continue due to the dark and foggy conditions,” Wagner said.
“A team of more than 30 people were organized to continue the search the following morning. The opening of Hurricane Ridge Road on Sunday morning was delayed until 10 a.m. to facilitate the search and rescue operation.”
The operation was composed of Olympic National Park rangers, Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club Ski Patrol, Olympic Mountain Rescue, Tacoma Mountain Rescue, Kitsap County Search Dogs and King County Ski Patrol Rescue Team.
A Navy helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was on its way to Hurricane Ridge when the snowboarder was found, park officials said.
“The National Park Service extends a special thank you to all of the volunteer search and rescue organizations for their partnership and dedication to saving lives through rescue and mountain safety education,” Wagner said.
Olympic National Park reported 84 search and rescue incidents in 2019.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
