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Overdue hiker found dead in Kittitas County after falling down steep slope

Kittitas County Sheriff's Office

KITTITAS COUNTY, Wash. — An overdue hiker was found dead in Alpine Lakes Wilderness after falling down a steep slope while alone on a day hike.

Sean Mortensen, 19, had hiked Spectacle lake with his brother and a friend. On the morning of Aug. 30, Mortensen told his group that he was going to take a day hike toward Three Queens, located to the northeast of Spectacle Lake. He told them he would be gone about two hours.

When Mortensen had not returned by 5 p.m., his brother and friend began searching the area but were not able to find him. Mortensen had still not returned by the morning of Aug. 31, and his brother and friend decided to hike back to the trailhead and get help.

Naval Air Station Whidbey assisted with the search and flew out officers with the sheriff's office and a team from search and rescue. The group attempted to search for Mortensen but suspended the efforts due to darkness, resuming the morning of Sept. 1.

Mortensen was eventually located in the area of Three Queens at the base of a steep slope. Rescuers believe he fell about 150 feet.

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