Two Hikers Killed By Falling Tree in Olympic National Forest
Tragic new out of Washington State as two Kitsap County women were killed when a dead tree fell on the trail to Lower Lena Lake in Olympic National Forest on January, 15th. Christine Mutchler, 70, and Kathy Pickard, 76, died in the incident, while their friend Kathy Todd, 74, was unharmed.
The three friends from had planned to ski at Crystal Mountain but switched to hiking due to poor snow conditions, according to The Kitsap Sun. They were on the popular trail to Lower Lena Lake, about a three-mile hike, around noon when the top of a dead fir tree broke off about 10 feet up and fell across the path.
Todd was leading the hike, followed by Mutchler and then Pickard. Todd heard the tree fall behind her, turned, and found both women unconscious on the trail. Pickard was killed instantly, while Mutchler was seriously injured but still breathing.
Todd hiked to a clearing to contact Jefferson County 911. A search-and-rescue helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was dispatched. Two emergency room doctors hiking nearby came upon the scene and provided aid to Mutchler until the helicopter arrived and lowered a basket to transport her. Mutchler died minutes before the helicopter reached Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Our thoughts are with the victims’ family and friends.
Leave a Reply