News

News Release from Marion Co. Sheriff's Office
Posted on FlashAlert: June 25th, 2017 7:12 PM

Three hikers and a dog left yesterday to hike part of the Pacific Crest Trail south of Whitewater trail head. They planned on hiking in, camping and returning today but became lost. Marion County received the information around 11:00am this morning and were able to make phone contact with the lost hikers. Cell service was limited but Search and Rescue personnel were able to obtain a GPS coordinate based on the location of the hikers phone.

Members from the Marion County Sheriffs office Posse, SARCOM and Team 18 were requested. Members from Team 18 were already deployed to assist Clackamas County Sheriff's Office on their search in the Bull of the Woods area. Once the Marion County Posse arrived, they deployed toward the lost hikers. During this time, search and rescue personnel were able to send a map by text to the lost hikers and requested they begin hiking out to meet the Posse.

At approximately 4:45pm this afternoon members with the Posse made contact with the lost hikers and escorted them out to the trail head. The lost hikers did not need any kind of medical attention.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team would like to remind people to be prepared when trekking out into the wilderness. Sgt Shane Burnham said to be prepared, hikers should take maps of the area, a compass, GPS and extra food, clothing and water. The Marion County Sheriff's Office would like to thank all of the volunteers of the search and rescue team who responded to this search as well as the Clackamas County Search.

We will not be releasing the names of the hikers tonight as they are still making their way out of the area and back into cell service, we do not want to release the names until they have been able to notify family members they are ok.

I am waiting on photographs to be sent once SAR personnel get down to cell service.

Contact Info:
Primary PIO Phone: 503. 584. MCSO (6276)
Public Information Officer Lt. Jeff Stutrud
Email: jstutrud@co.marion.or.us
On Twitter: @MCSOInTheKnow
www.Facebook.com/MCSOInTheKnow