Body of missing hiker found

Searchers at Mount Rainier National Park discovered the body of a missing Mukilteo hiker Wednesday morning.

Rescuers found Devin Ossman, 45, about a mile and a half from the Kautz Creek trailhead, park spokeswoman Lee Taylor said.

	Devin Ossman

The search teams were following tracks in the snow when, at 4,200 feet, the tracks left the trail and descended to about 3,000 feet, where Ossman's body was found, Taylor said.

The searchers will work this afternoon to remove his body from the backcountry, she said.

A park ranger discovered Ossman's vehicle late Monday at the trailhead for the Kautz Creek Trail. The ranger learned that, earlier in the day, the man's wife had reported him missing to police in Mukilteo.

Because it was late in the day, only a cursory search could be made Monday. But on Tuesday, a eight rescuers and a dog team searched the trail for signs of Ossman. The team discovered some tracks at the 3,400-foot level believed to belong to the missing hiker.

The renewed effort Wednesday included 20 searchers, two dog teams and a helicopter.

Ossman had gone hiking wearing jeans, a flannel shirt, coat, scarf and a cap. He is not believed to have had any equipment for an overnight stay.