2 teens still missing in Alpine Lakes Wilderness area

Brian Chim (left) and Ricardo Perez went missing in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area June 30.



SEATTLE -- The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in locating two Snohomish County teens who went missing after hiking to the Mason Lake area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on Sunday.

The King County Sheriff’s Office and King County Search and Rescue are searching an area about 45 miles east of Seattle and west of Snoqualmie Pass. They are combing the area for Ricardo Perez, 18, and Briam Chim, 19, two inexperienced hikers.

The trails in the area are wide and well-used and a lot of hikers use them during this time of year. Overnight conditions in the area were very survivable, but searchers have not been able to locate Perez and Chim.

The search began early July 1 with deputies, search and rescue volunteers and the KCSO Air Unit.

Ricardo Perez, a Kamiak High School graduate from Edmonds, and Chim, a University of Washington student from Mukilteo, left Snohomish County Sunday about 7 a.m. to hike and swim in the Mason Lake. When the two teens did not return home that evening, their parents reported them missing.

Perez was last seen wearing shorts and a light blue jacket. He is about 5-feet,11-inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. Chim was last seen wearing a purple tee shirt and khaki shorts with a black backpack.  He is 5-feet, 7-inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds.

Police are asking anyone who was hiking in the area on Sunday or Monday to call 206-296-3311 if they saw either of the teens.