Kelly Hall, 64, of Bainbridge Island, who was overdue for several days after a planned six-day hike in the northeast corner of Olympic National Park, arrived in the area of the Elwha Ranger Station shortly before 10 a.m. today, Sept. 8, safe and well. He then contacted a park employee.

“We are overjoyed to have this search reach a successful and happy conclusion,” park superintendent Sarah Creachbaum said.

Searchers who contributed to the effort include National Park Service employees and volunteers, an aircraft and crew from Washington State Patrol, and volunteers from Olympic Mountain Rescue, Clallam County Search and Rescue and German Shepherd Search Dogs.

A search began late on Friday, Sept. 5, for Hall, 64, of Bainbridge Island, who at the time was three days overdue.

According to park sources, Hall began his hike on Aug. 30, setting out from the Obstruction Point Trailhead near Hurricane Ridge. Family members said they expected to meet him at the Slab Camp Trailhead near Sequim on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 4). He was reported overdue Thursday evening.

Hall’s itinerary was to hike Grand Valley to Grand Pass and continue to Cameron Pass, through Dose Meadows to Gray Wolf Pass and follow the Gray Wolf Trail into the Olympic National Forest Buckhorn Wilderness.

By Saturday afternoon, there were seven National Park Service employees in the field walking trails and searching areas along Hall’s intended route. Three volunteer members of Olympic Mountain Rescue joined the search Saturday and four volunteers from Clallam County Search and Rescue were set to enter the field this weekend.

On Sunday, 16 ground searchers were in the field searching both trails and off-trail areas along or near Hall’s intended itinerary. About 10 searchers camped in the wilderness that night and resumed search efforts Monday morning.

An aircraft equipped with heat sensing forward-looking infrared equipment flew over the search area before sunrise Monday morning.