Washington's Outdoors Claimed 4 Lives This Week in 2 Separate Accidents

Todd, who was hiking ahead of her two friends, turned around moments later to find both women unconscious on the trail.

Published: 1/23/2026, 5:29:24 PM EST

Washington's Outdoors Claimed 4 Lives This Week in 2 Separate Accidents — Mount Rainier in a file photo. (Elaine Thompson/AP Photo)

Four people died in separate incidents at Mount Rainier National Park and nearby Olympic National Forest within a week, according to authorities.

Two hikers from Kitsap County were killed Jan. 15 when a large dead evergreen tree broke at its base and crashed onto the trail near Lena Lake in Olympic National Forest, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. In a separate incident, two climbers were found dead near Wilson Glacier on Mount Rainier after failing to return from a backcountry expedition, according to the National Park Service.

Kathryn Pickard, 76, of Bremerton and Christine Mutchler, 70, of Seabeck were hiking with a friend when the tree fell shortly before noon on the Lena Lake Trail. The trail, located in the Hood Canal Ranger District of Olympic National Forest, draws heavy traffic during peak seasons for its moderate terrain and scenic views, according to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

The three women—Pickard, Mutchler, and Kathy Todd—had initially planned to ski at Crystal Mountain but changed their plans due to poor snow conditions, Todd said in an interview with the Kitsap Sun. After the morning fog cleared, the group hiked toward the lake under sunny skies.

"We heard a big crack that I'll never forget," Todd told the newspaper. "I ran as fast as I could, and I'm sure they did too."

Todd, who was hiking ahead of her two friends, turned around moments later to find both women unconscious on the trail. Pickard was pronounced dead at the scene by a Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy.

Two emergency room physicians who were also hiking in the area immediately provided medical care to Mutchler, who was breathing but unresponsive, Todd said. After walking to a clearing near Lower Lena Lake to establish cell service, Todd called Jefferson County 911 at around 12:06 p.m. via an Apple satellite text message.

A Navy helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island arrived at the remote location about an hour and 10 minutes after Todd contacted authorities. Responders hoisted Mutchler from the wooded area adjacent to the trail and took her to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Mutchler died during the flight, just minutes before the helicopter landed at the hospital, according to Paula Smith, Mutchler's older sister, who arrived at Harborview around 4 p.m., the Kitsap Sun reported.

Deputies and members of Jefferson Search and Rescue hiked to the scene and retrieved Pickard from a wooded area where she had been thrown from the trail by the impact. A search and rescue crew assisted with the recovery of her body.

The U.S. Forest Service advised that no ongoing hazard from falling trees or rocks has been identified and the trail remains open, the sheriff's office said.

Pickard was born Feb. 17, 1949, and graduated from Kent-Meridian High School before attending Whitworth University in Spokane, where she majored in French, according to her obituary published in the Kitsap Sun. She worked as a radiology technologist at Harrison Hospital and served as fitness director at the Bremerton YMCA during her career.

After retiring, Pickard dedicated herself to outdoor recreation and community involvement. She was an active member at Peninsula Bible Fellowship and Crossroads Neighborhood Church, hosting dinners and holiday gatherings at her Bremerton home overlooking Puget Sound.

"While her loss is heartbreaking, there is comfort in knowing that she died doing what she loved," her family wrote in the obituary.

Mutchler was an avid hiker and skier who lost her husband, Christopher Mutchler, to pancreatic cancer in 2020, according to Christopher’s brother Jon Mutchler. Jon, who is a former mayor and councilmember in Ferndale, announced the news of her death in a Jan. 19 Facebook post.

"We are grieved to report that Christine, an active hiker and skier, passed away, along with a girlfriend, in a hiking accident on January 15," Jon wrote. He said Chris and Christine leave behind a married daughter, Jennifer.

In a Facebook post Jan. 20, friend Mallory Sanchez described Pickard as "one of the spunkiest women I have known" who was "always up for adventure and endlessly kind and encouraging."

An obituary for Pickard was not publicly available as of Friday afternoon.

Mount Rainier Climbers Found Dead

In a separate incident, park rangers at Mount Rainier National Park recovered the bodies of two climbers from the Wilson Glacier area at approximately 9,600 feet in elevation, according to a National Park Service press release issued Thursday.

Rangers initiated an investigation Jan. 18 after identifying overdue climbing permits. Emergency contacts reported the two climbers had not been in contact since Jan. 17. Rangers located the climbers' vehicle in the Paradise parking lot.

Using spotting equipment, searchers observed two “non-ambulatory” individuals near Wilson Glacier on Jan. 18, but severe weather conditions Jan. 19 prevented helicopter crews from accessing the area. Ground teams reached the location Jan. 20 and confirmed both individuals were deceased.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office identified one climber as Jiri Richter, 51, according to The Daily Chronicle. The second climber had not been identified and the cause of death for both individuals remains under investigation.

A user claiming to be a climbing partner of Ritcher wrote in a post on cascadeclimbers.com that, “he was the sort of strong, solid, quietly competent partner I sought and most enjoyed.” He added, “Aside from mountaineering, Jiri was an accomplished paraglider, who had an affinity for launching from difficult spots, and once took off from Poo Poo Point in Issaquah and landed in Yakima.”

The Wilson Glacier route requires mountaineering experience and specialized equipment, as climbers must traverse seven miles of ice, snow and rock on technical and often sheer terrain that climbs over 4,000 feet in elevation. The route also carries danger from potential rockfalls.

Mount Rainier National Park requires climbers to obtain permits and be accompanied by at least one other person unless specifically authorized for solo climbs. The park warns that weather, snow, and route conditions can change rapidly in winter months.