Abandoned Elk Camp Tatoosh Wilderness

[Western_WA_Kevin]

Looking to find who abandoned their elk camp in the Tatoosh Wilderness last fall. After multiple trips near this location, I decided to check out the tent and found the tent collapsing in. There is was nothing in the tent that helps in identifying the owner. There was some muzzleloader rounds, men and women's clothing if that helps. Tomorrow I will be calling the Cowlitz Ranger station to report the camp. If this was your camp or know who's camp this could be please DM me.

[Gettin Birdie]

Odd...maybe their dead

[Rob]

Very odd...  that is a lot of high dollar stuff to be left behind.

[Fatherof5]

  Very sinister find. Something bad must have happened for the person/persons to leave it like that. Please keep us posted if you find out any details.

[Knocker of rocks]

According to Yosemite Search and Rescue, it is not uncommon for people to just walk away from their stuff, and never return because of disgust, embarrassment, laziness,  health, or life issues.

Hope it’s nothing more than that

[bornhunter]

Yeah I would report it sooner than later. Good chance someone got themselves in some sort of trouble.

[Rob]

how far back from a trailhead is it? 

[GASoline71]

Looking to find who abandoned their elk camp in the Tatoosh Wilderness last fall.

Last fall?  A lot could have happened between last fall and now.

Gary

[pianoman9701]

Backpack was even left. Very odd indeed.

[Bob33]

Very odd. Maybe hiked away from camp, couldn't find his way back, and hiked out.

[Rainier10]

Curious to hear what you find out.

[Western_WA_Kevin]

Called the Cowlitz ranger station this morning to report the camp. The ranger was not aware of anyone that has been reported missing since last fall in the area where I found the camp. Also, said this is not super uncommon in the national forest because sometimes people overestimate their abilities hiking and camping in the backcountry. No judgement here, just trying to hopefully get the stuff back to the owner.

As for the location- it was about 3 miles and 3,000 feet in elevation gain from the north trailhead, located in a small sheltered clearing next to a drop off. This is IVO of the Tatoosh Lakes if you are familiar with the area.

[Knocker of rocks]

I would offer to clean up the mess, with the agreement of the USFS and applicable Sheriff’s department. Which given that it’s Lewis County, the SD may care less

[2MANY]

A perfect example of a great place that has become extremely over populated.

Back when Blakenship ran cows up there and many years afterwards it was incredible.


Sad but over.

[wags]

That tent did not spend the winter there at 3000 foot elevation.
about 6 feet of snow would have flattened it, as well as everything inside.

[LDennis24]

That tent did not spend the winter there at 3000 foot elevation.
about 6 feet of snow would have flattened it, as well as everything inside.

  something doesn't add up here.

[zwickeyman]

Western

Im sending you a PM as I am curious. I have spent many a day up there. In fact my Avatar pic is from up there in 2015


I found something similar in the Mt Adams Wilderness back around 2000. There was some valuables but it was mostly garbage and tarps. I was scouting so was light. I packed out all the garbage and tarps and all the *censored* I could get in my pack. The one in Adams was just left by a bunch POS lazy bastages

[C-Money]

That is pretty crazy!

[fishngamereaper]

Considering what was left it doesn't appear as though they overestimated their abilities...

It appears they had to exit the area quickly...or meet a worse fate..
I'm kinda surprised the FS didn't send someone up there to look around for a day.
Lots of people don't have family or friends that can "report" them missing...

Something ain't right.

[LDennis24]

Right! This could be another Chris McCandless story. The person might be missing out of Colorado or even Pennsylvania... or Canada. I feel like they should be up there checking it out with a dog possibly.

[10thmountainarcher]

Considering what was left it doesn't appear as though they overestimated their abilities...

It appears they had to exit the area quickly...or meet a worse fate..
I'm kinda surprised the FS didn't send someone up there to look around for a day.
Lots of people don't have family or friends that can "report" them missing...

Something ain't right.

  Something is off, how could they look at that and not investigate a bit further. Disappointed in them.

[Knocker of rocks]

It’s apparently quite common throughout the west, and they don’t have any reports of missing people or evidence of a crime.

[2MANY]

Considering what was left it doesn't appear as though they overestimated their abilities...

It appears they had to exit the area quickly...or meet a worse fate..
I'm kinda surprised the FS didn't send someone up there to look around for a day.
Lots of people don't have family or friends that can "report" them missing...

Something ain't right.

  Something is off, how could they look at that and not investigate a bit further. Disappointed in them.

Oh you must be kidding.
The national forest clowns don't actually get out in the forest anymore.
They don't cut out trails or bushwhack like they once did when men actually patrolled the woods.
On a hard core day it's college students doing an occasional pass through while staring out rainbow colored sun glasses.
OR
You might see the "Law Enforcement" truck sitting at a trailhead writing tickets for no parking pass.
They will no more hike up there then Joe Biden himself.
Oh and by the way........................Stck a fork in Tatoosh.

[10thmountainarcher]

It’s apparently quite common throughout the west, and they don’t have any reports of missing people or evidence of a crime.

Hard to turn up any sort of evidence if you don’t check it out.

[fishngamereaper]

It’s apparently quite common throughout the west, and they don’t have any reports of missing people or evidence of a crime.

I would venture to say your typical abandoned camp is a crap tent, tarp and a couple non essentials...
All to often the pic provided is related to a medical emergency or more common suicide..no criminal activity.
And often missing person reports don't reach the areas where someone is missing..
I just think the situation warrants further investigation...

[pianoman9701]

It’s apparently quite common throughout the west, and they don’t have any reports of missing people or evidence of a crime.

I would venture to say your typical abandoned camp is a crap tent, tarp and a couple non essentials...
All to often the pic provided is related to a medical emergency or more common suicide..no criminal activity.
And often missing person reports don't reach the areas where someone is missing..
I just think the situation warrants further investigation...

Agreed. Whoever it was left behind a lot of valuable equipment. If the picture is how the stuff was found, it looks like they were in a hurry to get out of there.

[WapitiTalk1]

Really strange; lots of gear left behind. OP, does the pic show how everything was positioned as you found it? Just curious.

[boneaddict]

Very odd. Maybe hiked away from camp, couldn't find his way back, and hiked out.

Best case scenerio here.   You mentioned drop off, did you take a peek?

[boneaddict]

I had a situation once that could have resulted in this.   Packed in like that for elk, hunted elk, killed the elk, packed out elk with Dad and stock and had to return to my camp three days later to retrieve.   I could have just left it... but of course did not.

[2MANY]

I could show you 10 abandoned camps in the Gifford Pinch that are worse then that.
People don't care about the impact on others.
It's all about their immediate needs.

Last time I was on Tatoosh during bear season there was a large group having a wedding at the lookout complete with music and all.
Won't be long and our Wilderness areas will need roundabouts on the trails.

[Knocker of rocks]

I think the OP’s point is that it looks unusual for an abandoned camp, not the usual junk

[2MANY]

Agree.
It's all unusual and sad.

I was taught to leave no trace.
Times have changed.

[LDennis24]

Ok so....     

I'm also thinking alien abduction

[boneaddict]

I'm still thinking, peak over the edge.   Took one step too many peeing in the dark.   That first step is a real bi%^&

[TeacherMan]

I’m guessing they got an animal and left behind the weight thinking they’d come back. Then their backs, wallets, and time changed their minds from the comfort of their couch and they just wrote it off.

[2MANY]

110% my exact thoughts.

Regardless of the excuse,  including suicide, it's BS unless he or she had an accident.
If that's the case the spirit soared and the creatures ate well.

[Western_WA_Kevin]

Really strange; lots of gear left behind. OP, does the pic show how everything was positioned as you found it? Just curious.

The stuff was all inside the semi-collapsed tent. After I checked to see there weren't bodies in the sleep bags I took it out to try to find any form of indentification. I figured it was an elk camp because there were a couple calls and muzzleloader rounds and caps.

[TeacherMan]

My wife said Bigfoot 😂🤷🏻‍♂️

[BD1]