Jakhobi Hale, 21, disappeared on May 16, 2026, after setting out on what was expected to be a short hike in the mountains near Gold Hill outside Darrington, Washington. More than two months later, despite extensive search efforts, he has not been found.

According to his family, Hale was last seen at approximately 10:00 a.m. at his grandparents' property on Gold Hill in eastern Snohomish County. He told his grandparents he planned to hike north from the property and expected to return before dark. He left behind his cellphone and was carrying only a machete, a granola bar, and two mandarin oranges, suggesting he intended to be gone for only a few hours. His family said he was looking forward to returning that evening to watch a movie and eat popcorn with his grandparents.

Hale was familiar with the area, having spent years exploring the Gold Hill property and the surrounding forests. He knew the nearby trails, old cabins, and the beaver pond, making it unusual that he would become lost on a routine hike. Family members have said he was not equipped for an overnight stay or an extended trip into the backcountry.

He was last seen wearing an olive-green Helly Hansen rain jacket over a two-toned blue-gray and purple zip-up sweater with spiritual symbols on one sleeve, gray pants, and black Harley-Davidson riding boots.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office and Snohomish County Search and Rescue launched an intensive search that lasted seven days. Search teams used ground crews, K-9 units, drones, and other resources to search the rugged terrain surrounding Gold Hill, but no trace of Hale was found. One possible clue was what investigators believed may have been a fresh machete cut on vegetation in the search area, although it could not be definitively linked to him.

Search dogs reportedly tracked Hale's scent along the old Mountain Loop Highway north of the property and later near a nearby cell tower. However, investigators were unable to determine where he went after that point or what may have happened.

As official search efforts scaled back, Hale's family continued organizing volunteer searches, believing there are still many areas that have not been thoroughly examined. They have expressed concern about steep ravines, remote ridgelines, sections of the Sauk River, and several abandoned mines in the area. Family members have also sought the use of drones and specialized equipment to inspect locations that are difficult or dangerous for searchers to access.

One of the few potential leads in the case is a grainy trail camera image taken at approximately 1:50 p.m. on the day Hale disappeared. The image shows two unidentified people in the area several hours after he left on his hike. Investigators have not identified the individuals, and Hale's family has publicly asked them to come forward in case they saw or spoke with him that day. Authorities have not identified the pair as suspects and have only stated they may have information that could help establish Hale's movements.

The family has also raised funds to continue private search efforts, including hiring investigators and supporting volunteers. Former military personnel and experienced wilderness searchers have assisted in ongoing efforts to search the remote mountain terrain.

As of the latest public updates, Jakhobi Hale remains missing, and investigators have not determined whether he suffered an accident, became stranded, or encountered another circumstance while hiking. His family continues to hope that someone who was in the Gold Hill or Mountain Loop Highway area on May 16 will come forward with information that could help explain what happened.

Anyone with information about Jakhobi Hale's disappearance or who may have seen him on May 16, 2026, is asked to contact the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office at (425) 388-3393. Even information that may seem minor could help investigators determine his whereabouts.