Hiker’s body recovered at Mount Rainier Natl. Park

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. (AP) — Mount Rainier National Park officials say the body of a 69-year-old hiker was recovered Friday, a day after he was reported overdue by family members.

Officials say search teams recovered the man’s body above Paradise.

Park officials started searching Thursday after family members reported that he didn’t return from a Wednesday hike to Pebble Creek in thunderstorms, sleet and hail.

The hike he had been on was one of several recent conditioning trips he had taken to prepare for a Mount Rainier summit climb.

The hiker was found by aerial search Thursday afternoon near the base of the Nisqually chute.

Officials say unsettled weather conditions kept the helicopter recovery from happening until Friday.

The man’s name wasn’t released.

The incident is under investigation.