$10,000 Reward Offered in Search for Missing Pacific Crest Trail Hiker

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YAKIMA — The family of a missing Pacific Crest Trail hiker hopes a reward of up to $10,000 could bring forward new information in the search for the man last seen in Central Washington nearly a year ago.

Kris Fowler’s stepmother, Sally Guyton Fowler, wrote on Facebook she felt “the need to take a new direction in hopes of both increasing a serious search as well as maybe flushing out some new information, that for whatever reason, has not been shared.” A reward could be given to anyone with reliable, new information that leads to Fowler, who was known as “Sherpa” on the trail. The family reserves the right to determine the payment amount.

Fowler hiked more than 2,000 miles along the renowned trail before the last confirmed sighting of him on Oct. 12 in Packwood, where he told a store clerk he intended to continue on past White Pass into potentially dangerous weather. Officials and Fowler’s family believe two bear hunters saw Fowler 10 days later at Blowout Mountain, more than 63 trail miles north of White Pass.



An unprecedented search with assistance from multiple counties turned up few clues, and searches conducted by Kittitas County as well as organized volunteer groups this summer resulted in similar disappointment. More than 6,400 people have joined an active Facebook group dedicated to finding Fowler, and Guyton Fowler remains the public face of a relentless awareness campaign.

To see the flyer with images of Fowler and his gear, go to the Facebook group “Bring Kris Fowler/Sherpa Home.” Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Yakima County sheriff Sgt. Randy Briscoe at 509-574-2535 or the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office at 509-962-7525. Callers may remain anonymous.