Final Update: Mr. Maurer was reunited with his family at the Command Post just before 1:30 a.m. When asked about his hike, Maurer said the couple had started their hike about 12:30 p.m. intending to travel the Oneonta/Horsetail Falls trail loop. They came across a wash on the trail and his spouse returned back down the trail while he continued to hike across the wash and up the trail taking a wrong turn at some point during the hike and becoming lost. He was able to get a signal on part of the trail and texted a friend to let him know he was lost and described where he was. He continued on a trail with a more gradual descent because of a sore knee. Once he came across the road in the Bull Run watershed he was able to get a signal out and send another text, allowing searchers to narrow his approximate location down east of where he had been earlier. After talking on the phone with search coordinators he stayed where he was and waited until searchers reached him. He had run out of water and food when searchers located him. He did not have a flashlight other than on his phone and was wearing shorts and a light shirt/sweatshirt and windbreaker for the hike. He was not carrying any other emergency supplies.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office would like to remind anyone contemplating a hike or outing on hiking trails within the Columbia Gorge and other scenic areas to carry the proper equipment when setting out including a map, compass, flashlight, extra food and water, extra clothing, fire starter, knife, first aid kit and signaling device. A GPS and a cell phone with extra battery. Research your route before you go and stay on the trails. If you do become lost on the trails and call for help, stay in place after you call. This will assist searchers working to locate you. Carry bright colored clothing you can hang on a tree to attract attention. Hike with a group or a friend, stay together and keep each other in sight. Let someone know your plan and when you expect to return so someone knows if you are overdue. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office wants everyone to have a safe and enjoyable visit to the scenic areas in the Columbia Gorge and other hiking areas.
-------------Update2-----------------
Update2: Mountain Wave SAR teams made contact with the lost hiker at 11:40 p.m. The hiker, identified as William Maurer, Age 58 of Makawao, Hawaii, was in good spirits, searchers gave him water but otherwise he is in good condition. He will be transported back to the Command Post to be reunited with family members. Search teams are being recalled to the Command Post.
Further updates will be provided when more information is available.
--------------Update1----------------
Update1: MCSO Deputies and Mountain Wave SAR vehicles have reached the Bull Run Watershed and are preparing to drive in to the approximate location of the lost hiker. MCSO Trail Hornets have continued east on the trail to Nesmith Point and an MCSO SAR team has staged at the Larch Mountain trail in case the hiker continued to move. Portland Police Bureau's Air unit also flew over the area earlier but tree cover limited their view and efforts were unsuccessful to spot the hiker. It is expected it will take about forty minutes once they access into the watershed to reach the area the hiker is believed to be in. Mountain Wave Communications is providing radio support to teams deployed in the field as search efforts continue.
Further updates will be provided when more information is available.
----------------Original Message---------------
This afternoon, Tuesday July 19, 2016 at approximately 6:30 p.m. MCSO deputies were dispatched to the Oneonta Gorge trailhead on the report of a lost hiker. A friend of the hiker called 911 after he spoke with the hiker who said he had become separated from his spouse while hiking, was lost and didn't know where he was. He described the area he was walking in and the friend reported those details to 911. MCSO Deputies arrived at the Trailhead and made contact with the hiker's spouse who had made it back to the Oneonta Trailhead. MCSO Deputies contact MCSO SAR Coordinators and activated the MCSO Trail Hornet team and MCSO Search and Rescue. Trail Hornets arrived and went into the field at approximately 8:15 p.m. to begin search efforts to locate the lost hiker.
Shortly before 9:00 p.m. a text was received from the lost hiker to his friend's phone. Search Coordinators were able to confirm a location on the hiker near the Bull Run Watershed. They instructed the hiker to stay where he was via text and patrol deputies are enroute to the location he is believed to be in. MCSO Search and Rescue teams remain enroute to the Command Post in case they are needed to be dispatched into the field. The hiker, a 58 year old male, reported a sore knee but no other injuries. The hiker had limited emergency supplies with him.
Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Media staging is available near the Command Post.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office would like to remind anyone contemplating a hike or outing on hiking trails within the Columbia Gorge and other scenic areas to carry the proper equipment when setting out including a map, compass, flashlight, extra food and water, extra clothing, fire starter, knife, first aid kit and signaling device. A GPS and a cell phone with extra battery. Research your route before you go and stay on the trails. If you do become lost on the trails and call for help, stay in place after you call. This will assist searchers working to locate you. Carry bright colored clothing you can hang on a tree to attract attention. Hike with a group or a friend, stay together and keep each other in sight. Let someone know your plan and when you expect to return so someone knows if you are overdue. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office wants everyone to have a safe and enjoyable visit to the scenic areas in the Columbia Gorge and other hiking areas.
-------------Update2-----------------
Update2: Mountain Wave SAR teams made contact with the lost hiker at 11:40 p.m. The hiker, identified as William Maurer, Age 58 of Makawao, Hawaii, was in good spirits, searchers gave him water but otherwise he is in good condition. He will be transported back to the Command Post to be reunited with family members. Search teams are being recalled to the Command Post.
Further updates will be provided when more information is available.
--------------Update1----------------
Update1: MCSO Deputies and Mountain Wave SAR vehicles have reached the Bull Run Watershed and are preparing to drive in to the approximate location of the lost hiker. MCSO Trail Hornets have continued east on the trail to Nesmith Point and an MCSO SAR team has staged at the Larch Mountain trail in case the hiker continued to move. Portland Police Bureau's Air unit also flew over the area earlier but tree cover limited their view and efforts were unsuccessful to spot the hiker. It is expected it will take about forty minutes once they access into the watershed to reach the area the hiker is believed to be in. Mountain Wave Communications is providing radio support to teams deployed in the field as search efforts continue.
Further updates will be provided when more information is available.
----------------Original Message---------------
This afternoon, Tuesday July 19, 2016 at approximately 6:30 p.m. MCSO deputies were dispatched to the Oneonta Gorge trailhead on the report of a lost hiker. A friend of the hiker called 911 after he spoke with the hiker who said he had become separated from his spouse while hiking, was lost and didn't know where he was. He described the area he was walking in and the friend reported those details to 911. MCSO Deputies arrived at the Trailhead and made contact with the hiker's spouse who had made it back to the Oneonta Trailhead. MCSO Deputies contact MCSO SAR Coordinators and activated the MCSO Trail Hornet team and MCSO Search and Rescue. Trail Hornets arrived and went into the field at approximately 8:15 p.m. to begin search efforts to locate the lost hiker.
Shortly before 9:00 p.m. a text was received from the lost hiker to his friend's phone. Search Coordinators were able to confirm a location on the hiker near the Bull Run Watershed. They instructed the hiker to stay where he was via text and patrol deputies are enroute to the location he is believed to be in. MCSO Search and Rescue teams remain enroute to the Command Post in case they are needed to be dispatched into the field. The hiker, a 58 year old male, reported a sore knee but no other injuries. The hiker had limited emergency supplies with him.
Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Media staging is available near the Command Post.