Kristopher Michael Fowler Missing Person Case

Jan 28, 2026

Jan 28, 2026

Kristopher

Michael Fowler

34

34

6'2 inches

165 lbs

White

Male

In the autumn of 2016, a 34-year-old man named Kristopher Michael Fowler, known to friends as Kris or by his trail name "Sherpa," was nearing the triumphant end of an epic journey. An avid outdoorsman and amateur photographer from Beavercreek, Ohio, Fowler had spent months hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, starting from the Mexican border and making his way north. By October, he had traversed over 2,000 miles and had entered the rugged wilderness of Washington state, with the Canadian border almost in sight. His last confirmed sighting was on October 12, 2016, at a Kracker Barrel store located off U.S. Highway 12 in Yakima County, near the White Pass trailhead. From there, he intended to continue his trek north towards Snoqualmie Pass, a man on the verge of completing a lifelong dream. Throughout his long hike, Kristopher had been diligent about checking in with his family every couple of weeks, but as October wore on, the calls stopped. Concern grew when a friend he had been texting with on October 12th mentioned he was having phone trouble. After a week of silence, his family's worry intensified, and by October 23rd, it was clear something was wrong, prompting them to officially report him as a missing person. His last cell phone signal was traced back to the White Pass area at around 5 p.m. on the day he was last seen, just as a significant storm, which would later be remembered as the Ides of October storm, was bearing down on the region, bringing with it considerable snow and rain. Authorities were notified and an extensive search operation was launched, but the severe weather conditions hampered their efforts, and the official search had to be called off after two weeks without finding any sign of Fowler. In the years following his disappearance, the search for Kristopher has been kept alive by his family and a community of dedicated volunteers. Tragically, his father passed away from cancer in 2017, never learning what became of his son. In his honor and to help others facing similar uncertainty, the Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation was established to assist the families of missing hikers. Kristopher Fowler was a strong, experienced hiker who was well-liked by those he met along the trail. The prevailing theory is that he became lost or was injured in the vast wilderness, a situation made perilous by the sudden and severe storm that hit the Cascade Mountains. Despite numerous searches over the years, no trace of Kristopher or his gear has ever been found, leaving his loved ones with unanswered questions about the final chapter of his incredible journey.

Oct 12, 2016

Yakima County

Washington

Yakima County

Yakima County Sheriff's Office

509-574-2500

06/08/2026