EVERETT — An Everett man has been missing for two weeks, since he supposedly began a distance hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
His family is concerned because Gavin Johnston, 28, has almost no hiking experience and he may be having a mental health crisis.
The weekend before he went missing, Johnston told his parents he’d been talking with Jesus, and that he wanted to quit his new job and be homeless, according to his stepmother, Debora Johnston.
He called his father and surprised him October 17, 2018, by saying he was driving to Stevens Pass for a two-month trip south on the Pacific Crest Trail. His father asked if he had permits and if he was going toward I-90.
“I don’t know. I don’t know where I-90 is,” his son answered.
His family has been in touch with a forest official who spoke with Johnston at 5p October 18, 2018, in Skykomish. That’s the last confirmed sighting.
His car was found at Stevens Pass, with little evidence to suggest where he went.
Johnston had bought $1,100 in gear from Cabela’s just before he left. If he brought everything that was missing from his home and car, he would have an enormous 70-pound external-frame backpack, not counting food or water, his stepmother said.
A partial list of his gear — a black North Face coat, two yellow ponchos, a Midland radio — is on a Facebook page, Find Gavin Johnston PCT 2018.
His family later learned Johnston had stopped showing up to work for a week.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office searched around Stevens Pass by helicopter Monday and Tuesday, when weather allowed. They found no trace of him.
Meanwhile, family members have canvassed the trails. They’re not sure if Johnston went north, south, onto a side trail — or if he hitchhiked out of the region. Thru-hikers on the PCT have been shown pictures of him. None have recognized him.
Signs have been posted at trailheads from Canada to Oregon. If you’ve seen Johnston, call Chelan County dispatchers at 509-663-9911.
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Personal Characteristics
Male
28 years old
Height: 5'09"
Weight: 150 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Classification: ENTHUSIAST
Investigative Overview
Foul Play Suspected: Unknown / Undisclosed
Suspected Suicide: Unknown / Undisclosed
Cause of Death: Undetermined / Unreleased
Significant Dates
Reported missing on October 18, 2018 - 1693 days, 3 hours, 19 minutes ago
Found on June 17, 2019 - 1451 days, 3 hours, 19 minutes ago
This case file was posted on
May 14, 2021 at 22:24
This case file was last modified on
May 14, 2021 at 22:42
This case file has been assigned the Missing Persons ID 4103
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Judaea Rojo
July 11, 2021 at 7:29 pm6/17/19 Update: The body of Gavin Johnston has been found. More here: https://komonews.com/news/local/family-missing-everett-man-found-dead-in-cascades
Judaea Rojo
July 11, 2021 at 7:28 pm10/20/18 Update: There has been a possible sighting of Gavin Johnston. More here: https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-man-missing-after-beginning-pct-hike-in-october/