Searchers, aided by several dog teams, located and recovered the body of missing hiker James Thomas Griffin in very rugged terrain near the Boulder Creek trailhead on Sunday, Jan. 25.

Griffin, 60, a Port Angeles resident, was the subject of an intensive five-day search that began on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

Griffin’s remains were found by a search dog team in a very steep, rugged and densely forested area about one-third of mile and nearly 1,000 vertical feet above the trail, according to Olympic National Park officials. An investigation at and around the scene showed no indications of foul play or wildlife interactions.

Griffin was last seen by other hikers about 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at Olympic Hot Springs. He was reported missing on Dec. 24 when he did not arrive at a Christmas Eve dinner as planned.

Griffin’s daypack was found on Dec. 25 about a half-mile from the trailhead. Despite the five-day search involving more than 20 people and several search dog teams, no other clues were located until Jan. 25.

Six dog teams from the all-volunteer group German Shepherd Search Dogs searched on Jan. 24, and two teams searched Jan. 25.