News Release

Recovery efforts completed for missing climber

Date: July 20, 2022
Contact: Penny Wagner

On Wednesday, July 20, the body of Sean Allen, 38, of Port Angeles, Washington was located and recovered from Olympic National Park. His body was transferred to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.

Late this afternoon, the crew on board the National Park Service exclusive-use contract helicopter from North Cascades National Park spotted Allen on the southern end of Mount Mystery approaching the Del Monte ridgeline. The helicopter was able to drop off a search team on the ground. The team performed the recovery operation with helicopter support. The helicopter operations were completed at 5:30 pm today. 

Late in the evening, July 18, 2022, Sean Allen was reported missing after he did not return from a backpacking trip. Allen had a wilderness permit for July 16-18 and was travelling solo with an intended route from Royal Basin to Home Lake. Allen’s itinerary included potential climbing attempts at Mount Mystery, Hal Foss Peak, and Little Mystery. 

Search and Rescue personnel hiked into the wilderness on Tuesday to begin a hasty search of the area after Allen was reported missing. The National Park Service exclusive-use contract helicopter from North Cascades National Park was also activated to assist with the search on Tuesday and continued in the search efforts Wednesday. 

Search teams from Olympic National Park and Olympic Mountain Rescue were in the field Wednesday covering routes from the Upper Dungeness Trail and around Royal Basin. Washington State Search and Rescue Planning Unit assisted the park with the search and recovery efforts.

Jefferson County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and date of death.

No further details are available at this time.