In July 2013, Patrick O’Hara, a 34-year-old IT specialist from Vancouver, embarked on a solo hiking trip through Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. A seasoned adventurer, Patrick was meticulous and well-prepared, carrying supplies calculated for a 10-day journey. His plan was to explore a remote section of the forest, far from popular trails, seeking solitude and untouched wilderness. But Patrick’s trip ended in tragedy, leaving behind one of the most chilling mysteries in Alaska’s history.
Tongass National Forest, a sprawling 17-million-acre wilderness, is known for its dense coniferous trees, relentless rain, and sudden fog that can disorient even experienced hikers. Locals say the forest “welcomes strangers but resists letting them go.” Patrick understood the risks, yet he was confident in his abilities. On July 12, he sent a text to his sister: “Heading out on the trail. Everything is going as planned. Next contact in 8 days.” That was the last anyone heard from him.
When Patrick failed to check in after 10 days, his family contacted the Alaska State Police, and a search operation began. Rescuers combed the area where Patrick was supposed to be hiking, using helicopters and ground teams, but the dense forest and heavy fog made progress slow. After seven days, they found his campsite near a stream, 800 meters off the main trail. Everything was meticulously packed—his tent, sleeping bag, and gear were organized as if he had calmly prepared to leave. But Patrick himself was nowhere to be found.
The search continued for weeks but yielded no further clues. Patrick’s disappearance was declared unsolved, and his case joined the long list of mysteries hidden in the vast Tongass Forest. For nine years, his family held onto hope, though they knew the chances of finding him alive were slim. Then, in August 2022, two forestry workers made a macabre discovery that would reignite the mystery.
Deep in the forest, far from any trail, the workers spotted a strange structure suspended 12 feet above the ground—a weathered wooden cabin perched between four towering trees. Intrigued, they climbed up to investigate. Inside, they found a human skeleton sitting against the wall, dressed in tattered hiking clothes. The door had been nailed shut from the inside, and claw marks covered the walls near the door—a chilling sign of desperation. Nearby, a backpack contained an ID card identifying the remains as Patrick O’Hara.
Forensic analysis revealed that Patrick had died of hypothermia, but the circumstances of his death raised disturbing questions. His skull showed a fracture from a blunt object, suggesting he had been injured before his death. The food in his backpack and unused gas canister indicated he hadn’t starved. Most unsettling were the claw marks and the barricaded door. Why would Patrick, injured and alone, seal himself inside the cabin? Was he hiding from something—or someone?
Investigators theorized two possible scenarios. The first was a tragic accident: Patrick, disoriented and injured, stumbled upon the cabin and accidentally knocked down the ladder used to access it. In his panic, he barricaded the door, believing he was protecting himself from external threats. The second theory was far darker: Patrick may have encountered poachers, who were known to operate in the area. After a confrontation, they could have forced him into the cabin, removed the ladder, and left him to die. The claw marks could have been Patrick’s desperate attempt to escape.
Despite extensive investigations, no suspects were identified. The cabin itself was likely built decades earlier by poachers, but its origins provided no clues. The case was closed once again, leaving Patrick’s family with more questions than answers. His death remains a haunting enigma, a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in Alaska’s wilderness.
For Patrick’s family, the discovery of his remains brought closure but not justice. The Tongass National Forest reclaimed the site of his final moments, erasing all traces of the cabin that served as both his prison and his tomb. Today, the mystery of Patrick O’Hara endures, hidden in the silence of the forest, where the secrets of his death may never be uncovered.
