Lost hiker rescued west of Broken Top

A Portland man who became separated from his hiking companions in the mountains west of Bend Wednesday afternoon made a cell phone call that triggered a successful search and rescue operation, authorities said.

Shortly after 2 p.m., Deschutes County 911 received a cell call from William Richard Aue, 57, who advised he thought he was two to three miles north of Mt. Bachelor and needed help finding his way down the mountain, said sheriff’s Deputy Jim Whitcom, assistant Search and Rescue coordinator.

Aue said he’d planned to climb South Sister, but may have headed too far east and was in the area west of Broken Top Mountain, Whitcomb said.

Due to poor phone reception, GPS coordinates were unavailable, the deputy said.

Sheriff’s Search and Rescue personnel were able to get enough details from phone calls to determine Aue’s approximate location, Whitcomb said. The hiker then was guided by phone to the Moraine Lake area.

Eight SAR members headed to Devil’s Lake Trailhead, where they met up with two fellow hikers, Axel Nastansky, 43, and wife Katju Nastansky, 40, of Denmark, Whitcomb said.

The pair said they were hiking earlier with Aue, but Aue decided at some point not to attempt the summit. The Nastanskys succeeded in reaching the summit, thinking they would meet up with Aue on their way back down, the deputy said.

SAR teams then were able to find Aue in good shape south of Moraine Lake, Whitcomb said. SAR teams escorted Aue back to the Devil’s Lake Trailhead parking lot, where he met up with his hiking partners.