Essex County Man, 20, Goes Missing While Hiking Olympic National Park

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police continue their search for a missing college student from Essex County who disappeared while hiking in Olympic National Park, authorities say.

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office in Washington started a search and rescue mission for 20-year-old Zach Krull on Tuesday, April 11, after the college student’s family and friends reported that he was overdue from a planned overnight hike in the Lake Cushman/Staircase area of Mason County.

Authorities told NJ.com that they located a set of footprints Friday that led to an avalanche site, but are unsure if the prints belonged to Krull.

"We don't know where exactly he went," Lt. Jason Dracobly told NJ.com, which identified Krull as a Livingston resident.

According to police, the 20-year-old had just transferred to Evergreen State College when he went missing.

“The search is focused on an area inside of the Olympic National Park near Mount Cruiser and around the Staircase camping grounds,” police stated.

Severe weather conditions hampered the initial search, which was aided by Olympic Mountain Rescue, helicopter support out of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, units from Mason, Thurston, and units from Pierce County Search and Rescue, authorities said.

Krull’s family and friends have started a Facebook page with updates about the search. See the website here.

Krull’s own Facebook page tells a tale of a young, promising college student with a love for the outdoors.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Mason County Sheriff’s Office

Stay updated about the search at the Patch Livingston Facebook page.