Found Deceased WA - Gavin Johnston, 28, hiker, Pacific Coast Trail, Skykomish, 18 Oct 2018

[JerseyGirl]

Gavin Johnston, 28, has almost no hiking experience and he may be having a mental health crisis. The weekend before he went missing, Johnston told his parents he’d been talking with Jesus, and that he wanted to quit his new job and be homeless.

He called his father and surprised him Oct. 17 by saying he was driving to Stevens Pass for a two-month trip south on the Pacific Crest Trail. His father asked if he had permits and if he was going toward I-90.

“I don’t know. I don’t know where I-90 is,” his son answered.

His family has been in touch with a forest official who spoke with Johnston at 5 p.m. Oct. 18 in Skykomish. That’s the last confirmed sighting.

more info...

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-man-missing-after-beginning-pct-hike-in-october/

Chelan County aids in search for Pacific Crest Trail hiker

 

[JerseyGirl]

His vehicle was found at the top of Stevens Pass. He has not been seen since, and was believed to be ill-equipped and not experienced at extended trail travel.

A Facebook group has been created to help coordinate the search for Johnston, and tips can be emailed to [email protected]

Facebook group: Find Gavin Johnston PCT 2018

Chelan County aids in search for Pacific Crest Trail hiker

 

[GraceG]

If you go to his missing Facebook page his family says the media reports about his mental health are incorrect. If you look at his personal facebook he's bright, not depressed, with a lot of friends and very spiritual. I take this as more of a "go out and find myself" type of journey for a young person but the family is concerned because he has no serious hiking experience and we're approaching winter. I'm from Washington the trail north of the pass is very difficult, south, easier, but it's easy to get off trail.

 

[DocBrew]

He is at the age where schizophrenia begins to manifest in some young men in profoundly life-altering ways, and the symptoms described in his disappearance seem to indicate something along those lines.

Hope they find him and get him the help he needs.

JMO.

 

[GraceG]

It's raining and in the 30's today, down in the 20's at night the rest of the week. I doubt there will be any other hikers out there to watch for him. Hope SAR has better luck. He didn't have the gear for those temperatures.

 

[dspdenver]

A couple posts on the Facebook missing page said he'd bought $1100 of gear/supplies amounting up to 75 pounds for his backpack in the couple days before he went missing, so he may have been somewhat prepared for the elements, even though he seems quite inexperienced at hiking. I would think that would be a tough weight to haul even if you had trained for such a trek, but depending on what he bought he could still be managing in the weather conditions. His mental state, though, could be more problematic.

Hoping he is found safe and gets help if needed.

 

[Wagtales10]

If he said what he said to his parents, then informed them he was going to do what he did. Why didnt they have him committed? It cant be normal and unconcerning his behavior

 

[GraceG]

If he said what he said to his parents, then informed them he was going to do what he did. Why didnt they have him committed? It cant be normal and unconcerning his behavior

I am of the understanding that he has to be formally diagnosed with a mental disorder and interviewed by a mental health professional prior to a petition for involuntarily committment in the state of WA and an immediate danger to himself or others. Family has said to media he doesn't have mental health issues. They could be in total denial, but if there's no one attesting to that fact, the statements he made would likely not be grounds for it. The link is for the Snohomish County information on committment. https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7090/Family-Guide-to-Involuntary-Treatment

 

[Wagtales10]

I am of the understanding that he has to be formally diagnosed with a mental disorder and interviewed by a mental health professional prior to a petition for involuntarily committment in the state of WA and an immediate danger to himself or others. Family has said to media he doesn't have mental health issues. They could be in total denial, but if there's no one attesting to that fact, the statements he made would likely not be grounds for it. The link is for the Snohomish County information on committment. https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7090/Family-Guide-to-Involuntary-Treatment

Thank You for explaining.

 

[LotsaLatte]

Having experienced a family member that went from the seemingly perfect boy to total meltdown in his 20s, I am just going to throw this out there..... Gavin appears to be a very loved person and a 'good boy' so I am wondering if he is feeling the need to disconnect and is trying not to have his family worry about him. If he told his parents of his plans, he may have used wording that would put them at ease even if he was feeling great pressure to get away immediately due to any issues he may be having. I hope that made sense? I do hope he is found safe and warm!

 

[GraceG]

He was living with his grandmother when he left. She has info up that he might be wearing glasses as he was in contacts in the missing picture. .Missing hiker/Welfare check - Oregon Hikers

 

[carbuff]

I'm not familiar with the Pacific Coast Trail, but I know a lot of people do the Appalachian Trail as a spiritual quest. But I'm under the impression the PCT is a lot harder and worse weather, especially in the fall.

 

[GraceG]

I'm not familiar with the Pacific Coast Trail, but I know a lot of people do the Appalachian Trail as a spiritual quest. But I'm under the impression the PCT is a lot harder and worse weather, especially in the fall.

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and also have family in the high Sierras in California. I've hiked little bits and pieces of it but didn't have the skill set (or the time) to do the whole thing. It's recommended that if hiking the trail North to South you start no later than late June - starting in Mid October with a two month planned hike is about impossible due to the heavy snows that start up late October. https://www.backpacker.com/trips/long-trails/pacific-crest-trail

 

[GraceG]

I grew up in that neck of the woods and have hiked parts of the trail. I just saw on facebook what supplies he purchased before the trek. The tent was lightweight and he only bought an emergency sleeping bag which is good for maybe 24-48 hours. The jacket he purchased is rated for "mild temperatures" and he had nothing to provide weather protection from snow below the waist. It's down into the teens at night this time of year with wind chill and the snows start late October. He wouldn't have lasted a week out there with that equipment. I do hope they find him for closure for the family.

 

[Hippononymous]

What is an emergency sleeping bag?

 

[GraceG]

What is an emergency sleeping bag?

It's a lightweight bag made normally out of Mylar that's designed for retention of the body heat and are usually bright orange on the outside so you can be seen. They are small and weigh almost nothing so easy to pack. When I used to be a pilot and was flying over rough terrain in a small plane I always had one onboard in case I had to make a precautionary landing and spend the night waiting for help. If the emergency equipment he bought that was posted online was correct that was the ONLY sleeping bag he purchased. They are designed to improve your odds of survival when you are forced to spend an unexpected night outdoors - NOT to be your bag for a long-term hike. They tear very easily after a use or two.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Palm-sized piece of human skull found in Skykomish River

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

Gavin Johnston, 28, has almost no hiking experience and he may be having a mental health crisis. The weekend before he went missing, Johnston told his parents he’d been talking with Jesus, and that he wanted to quit his new job and be homeless.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-man-missing-after-beginning-pct-hike-in-october/

S and BBM. This can't be something that someone just made up. IMO, there must be some truth to this and I hope this family gets the answers they need. It must be so very hard not knowing...

 

[kae27]

Palm-sized piece of human skull found in Skykomish River

Hard to imagine how that would be him. He started at Stevens Pass heading South, allegedly. This was found 30-40 miles (I haven't mapped it) northwest of where he started.

That said, I hope this family or another will end up with closure from this discovery.

 

[GraceG]

Hard to imagine how that would be him. He started at Stevens Pass heading South, allegedly. This was found 30-40 miles (I haven't mapped it) northwest of where he started.

That said, I hope this family or another will end up with closure from this discovery.

Agreed. Due to the timeline, it is seriously unlikely this is Gavin if he went into the water. Decomp in water, especially cold water, slows way down, and you don’t have the issue of insect activity that can accelerate the process. Also bodies in water tend to form Adipocere, also known as grave or corpse wax. That is is a hard, waxy, grayish substance that forms during decomposition, but particularly in bodies submerged in water during the winter. This process occurs over a few months when the fatty tissue beneath the skin begins to saponify (turn into soap.) Since the cold temperatures inhibit bacteria production, this wax can help preserve the body.

So missing in late Fall to being reduced to bone in December - in my opinion, absolutely not Gavin.