Sam Dubal, a 33-year-old University of Washington anthropology professor, went missing after a solo overnight hike in Mount Rainier National Park. He left on Friday, October 9, 2020, from the Mother Mountain Loop trail near Mowich Lake, carrying a tent, sleeping bag, and other appropriate gear, and was expected back October 10. When he failed to return, his family reported him missing on Monday, October 12.

An extensive search followed, involving park rangers, mountain rescue teams, volunteer searchers, canine units, drones and the US Air Force for aerial support. Weather hampered operations: fresh autumn snow and a storm that washed out a small bridge over the Carbon River on October 10 complicated the area he was believed to be hiking. Searchers recovered a distinctive water bottle believed to be his, but no other confirmed trace was found. Official ground searches were suspended October 23 because of severe winter weather; a brief resumption occurred before searches were suspended again as the outer limits for survivability passed. His family has begun grieving while holding unanswered questions.

Did anyone hiking the Mother Mountain Loop in early October 2020 see anything that might help locate Sam?