Mysterious Stories Blog
Strange, disturbing and mysterious stories from the outdoors
The Hidden Lake Lookout Trail disappearances and the incredible volunteer searches
Revised April 2024
In October 2019, Rachel Lakoduk and, in May 2021, Tom Simonseth vanished from the beautiful Hidden Lake Lookout Trail in the North Cascades National Park, Washington.
Nearly two years later, volunteer searchers Kevin Dares and Bud Carr finally located Rachel’s remains, whilst Tom’s were found a few months after he disappeared by his close friend, Mike Woodmansee.
The story of how both sets of remains were finally discovered is a testament to the determination of volunteers to carry on the effort after official search and rescue efforts had ended.
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The Hidden Lake Lookout Trail disappearances and the incredible volunteer searches
Rachel Lakoduk
Tom Simonseth, left, and Mike Woodmansee, right
The Lookout on the Hidden Lake Trail
Hidden Lake Lookout Trail in the North Cascades National Park
Kevin Dares (left) and Bud Carr (right)
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Read other strange stories from Washington
The strange disappearance of Samantha Sayers from Vesper Peak
The strange disappearance of Chet Hanson from Mount Rainier
The strange disappearance and death of James Griffin in Olympic National Park
The strange disappearance of John Devine from Olympic National Park
The strange disappearance of Stefan Bissert from Olympic National Park
The bizarre disappearance of Bryan Lee Johnston from the Olympic National Park
The weird disappearance of Richard R Lee from Colchuck Lake
The Strange Disappearance of Eric Lewis on Mount Rainier
The strange disappearance and death of Karen Sykes on Mount Rainier
The disturbing disappearance of Bryce Herda from the Olympic National Park
The mysterious disappearance of Joe Wood from Mount Rainier (Member only)
The amazing survival story of Gia Fuda - found alive after 9 days in the wilderness
The puzzling disappearance of Shirley Baumann near Lake Blethen
The strange death of the cyclist Jacob Gray in the Olympic National Park
Kris Fowler (The disturbing Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) disappearances)
Gavin Johnston - An overview of the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) Deaths
Lake Quinault's mysterious tree fall
The baffling disappearance of the anthropologist Sam Dubal on Mt. Rainier
The strange disappearance of the landscape painter Alexander Pisch
The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park
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