Overdue hiker found safe after multiagency search

WENATCHEE — A 27-year-old Portland man reported overdue from a four-day hike was found healthy and uninjured Friday after a search involving about 70 people and three dogs, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.

Chad Pietrok was reported overdue at about 8:15 p.m. Aug. 18 after last being heard from Aug. 11, when he entered the Ingalls Creek trailhead near Highway 97. He had planned a nearly 65-mile route through the Ingalls Valley, Esmeralda Basin and Jack Creek before crossing Windy Pass to the Eightmile trailhead.

Search efforts began the morning after Pietrok was reported overdue and included ground teams, helicopters, drones and K-9 teams. On Friday, Aug. 21, 11 ground teams were deployed in Chelan and Kittitas counties.

At about 11:30 a.m., RiverCom received a text-to-911 message from a hiker who reported being with Pietrok on the Jack Creek Trail near the trailhead. The hiker had recognized Pietrok as the missing person and offered him a ride back to his vehicle.

A deputy contacted the hikers and found Pietrok healthy and uninjured. Pietrok told authorities the hike had taken longer than expected and he encountered trail conditions that were difficult to traverse.

The search involved personnel and volunteers from agencies and rescue organizations in Chelan, Kittitas, King, Spokane and Yakima counties, along with Seattle Mountain Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service.