The following is a release from Patti Wold with the Mount Rainier National Park:

A search is underway above Paradise for an overdue snowshoer from Puyallup, Wash., who disappeared during Saturday evening’s winter storm. The missing party intended to overnight at Camp Muir, but was forced to descend due to formidable winter storm conditions. A second party took him into their shelter at Panorama Point, but when the shelter was destroyed by the extreme conditions they attempted to complete their descent to Paradise together. During the descent the individual separated from the party in the vicinity of Edith Creek.

The park worked with the Nordic Patrol to conduct a hasty search on Sunday. Today’s operations include a ground and air search from Edith Creek to the upper Stevens Canyon Drainage. Members of Tacoma, Everett, Seattle, and Olympic Mountain Rescues are conducting the ground search. The US Army Reserve 214th Air Division out of Joint Base Lewis McChord and park climbing rangers aboard are conducting the air search.

Current conditions are cold and windy. Avalanche conditions are considerable. The air search will focus on high avalanche areas.

The road to Paradise will remain closed during the search.