Christine Mutchler and Kathy Pickard die in fatal Olympic Peninsula, Washington accident

Christine Mutchler and Kathy Pickard die in fatal Olympic Peninsula, Washington accident

Fatal Olympic Peninsula, Washington accident deaths of Christine Mutchler and Kathy Pickard – Obituary

Christine Mutchler, 70, and Kathy Pickard, 76, both of Kitsap County, lost their lives last week during a hiking trip in the Olympic National Forest when a tree suddenly fell along the trail near Lena Lake. The fatal incident occurred on the Olympic Peninsula and is being investigated as a tragic accident.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the two women were hiking with a friend when a dead fir tree snapped several feet above the ground and crashed down on them. Pickard died at the scene, while Mutchler was critically injured and later airlifted by a search-and-rescue helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she succumbed to her injuries.

A hiking companion told authorities she had been walking ahead when she heard a loud cracking sound and turned back to find both women unconscious on the trail. The third hiker was not injured and was able to hike out to call 911.

The Kitsap Sun reported that Mutchler and Pickard were active outdoors enthusiasts who frequently participated in group activities, including organized hiking and ski trips. Pickard previously worked as a YMCA fitness director and later as a radiology technologist, while Mutchler was widely known in the local outdoor community for organizing group rides and hikes.

Officials noted that recent heavy rainfall in the region may have contributed to unstable soil conditions, increasing the risk of falling trees in forested areas. The incident remains a reminder of the dangers hikers can face on trails, particularly after severe weather events.