The bizarre disappearance of Bryan Lee Johnston from the Olympic National Park

November 20, 2017 StrangeOutdoors

Bryan Lee Johnston disappeared August 22, 2013, Ozette trail, Olympic National Park, Washington State.

Revised July 2024

71-year-old Bryan Lee Johnson had planned a two or three-day hike on the Ozette Loop Trail in the Olympic National Park. The park is on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest.

Bryan got up early on the morning of August 22, 2013, at his home in the Ballard District of Seattle and left his sleeping wife a note before heading off for his hike. He was never seen again.

What is the Ozette Trail in the Olympic National Park?

The Ozette Trail is a 9-mile loop that follows a predominantly plank trail that heads out for 3 miles northwest to the Pacific Ocean, then turns south along the beach for 3 miles, then follows a second plank trail inland for another 3 miles to the trailhead.

Bryan Johnston’s hike

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Bryan was physically fit and had hiked since he was a boy, as a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Eagle Scout. In addition to hiking, he enjoyed photography, cruising with his wife, and building things.

Before he retired, he worked for Seattle City Light as an engineer.

He wore his white hair in a ponytail because it was so thick it was easiest to pull it back and glasses, but he didn't need them for everyday activities.

After earning a bachelor’s in 1966 from the University of Washington, he served in the Air Force until 1970 and then worked in Seattle City Light until he retired.

He was described as a quiet man, almost a loner.

He had blue eyes and was 5 feet 10 inches tall. When last seen, he wore blue jeans and a black day pack.

Bryan is reported missing

Bryan’s wife and stepchildren reported him missing to Olympic National Park rangers on Wednesday, August 28th, 2013.

It isn't easy to lose yourself on the plank trail, but the portion of the hike along the beach could be rough, especially if tides are high and you have to climb around a couple of steep headlands. But, it seemed strange that Bryan had got lost on this particular loop.

The search

At least 50 park rangers and search teams from Clallam, Grays Harbor and Pierce counties searched for Johnston for three days in and around the Ozette area but found no sign of him.

His truck was parked at the Ozette trailhead, and inside, rangers found receipts from several Port Angeles businesses dated August 22, 2013, the day he left his Ballard home.

The ground search was called off with no clues. Bryan's family said he didn't plan to disappear but was described as “a quiet man, almost a loner.” When last seen, he wore blue jeans and a black day pack.

His older sister, Jinny Longfellow, said she thought that Bryan may have decided to check out other hiking areas before trying out the Ozette Loop Trail, “There are trails to Sekiu, and there are trails to Neah Bay. He may have gone to Neah Bay and outside that little cove where we had the accident just to see it.” She also said he didn’t plan to disappear, “People have said that to me, and there’s no way. He wouldn’t do that. He was a very happy guy.”

According to a member of his family, in 2017, a hiker found one of his boots on the trail he went missing and turned it into the authorities. But nothing has turned up since, and Bryan remains missing.

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