The remains of a hiker missing almost two years have been found in the Skagit County Cascade Mountains, WA.
Rachel Lakoduk, 28, had been missing since 18th October 2019. She had gone on a seven-mile hike from Hidden Lake Trailhead in the North Cascades near Marblemount when heavy snow fell on the mountains.
Her family became concerned when she did not return as planned the next day and contacted the National Park Service. Officials found her vehicle at the trailhead, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Search crews went out over that weekend in treacherous conditions but were forced to turn back due to heavy snow and avalanche danger. Teams were only able to reach 6,000-feet and reported up to six feet of snow on the trails.
Rescuers and her family thought she might have taken shelter inside a remote cabin at the Hidden Lake Lookout “when weather conditions turned snowy,” the Skagit Search and Rescue Council said in a Facebook post at the time. When the team went out again on Tuesday, they managed to reach the cabin at 6,800-feet, but unfortunately, they did not find any sign of the missing hiker.
The Skagit Search and Rescue Council shared a post this Sunday evening, breaking the news Lakoduk’s remains were found.
“It is with heavy, but thankful hearts that we can announce Rachel Lakoduk is coming home. Rachel was found this weekend during a large group search lead by our search coordinator Bud Carr and 49th parallel. The recovery team is currently working to bring her down off the mountain.”
