Hikers found safe

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, March 28, 2004

Two missing Everett hikers in Olympic National Park were found in good condition on Sunday afternoon and are expected to be flown out today.

"They are not in any danger. They are fine," said Barbara Maynes, a public information officer for the park.

A helicopter search crew spotted Jon Pontrello, 18 and Jonathan Parks, 20 around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday outside a shelter about 17 miles from the Bogachiel Valley trailhead, which is about five miles south of Forks and leads approximately 25 miles east into the national park’s wilderness.

Afterward, two rangers joined the hikers and are going to spend the night with them, Maynes said. Necessities such as food and warm clothes were also flown in.

Judging from the hikers’ condition, the rescue crew decided to fly them out tomorrow, she said. The two were described as having limited hiking and backcountry skills, but Maynes said it wasn’t yet clear why they hadn’t hiked out already.

Pontrello and Parks had last been seen on Monday at the trailhead, as they prepared for a three-day hike. Family members reported them overdue and a rescue started late Friday. About 40 people and three search dog teams were on the ground looking for them on Sunday.

Families and friends were relieved by the good news on Sunday evening.

Joanne Pontrello, 16, said she learned about 4:30 p.m. by phone that her brother Jon and his friend, who play together in a rock band, were safe.

"I knew they would come out safe," she said, adding that she knew no one has died on that particular trail.

Her mother, Kim Pontrello, was the most relived and happiest among the family, she said.

"We were pretty worried about them after (Saturday)," Kim Pontrello said, adding that her husband, Dave Pontrello, has gone to the region and would spend Sunday night there.

Kim Pontrello said that the two had only rain ponchos to keep them warm and didn’t have a tent or much food.

"To think of them going to spend another night in bad circumstances was worrisome," she said.

The rescue crew told her Sunday that the two had suffered light hypothermia, but were in good condition.

In the evening, about 30 friends and family members came to the Pontrello home to celebrate the good news and prepare for Jon Pontrello’s 18th birthday, which was Sunday.

Many of them brought Jon, a Cascade High School senior, birthday cards and balloons, Kim Pontrello said.

"We’re going to have a big party when he feels good," she said.

Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.