Searchers find two lost hikers near George Lake

Searchers found two missing Eugene hikers near George Lake, at the base of Mt. Washington, late Wednesday morning, a few hours after family members reported their situation to authorities.

Shortly after 8 a.m., Deschutes County 911 got a report through Lane County dispatchers of the two missing hikers, identified as Glen Baxendale, 74, and Jerry Krause, 69, both of Eugene, said sheriff’s Deputy Liam Klatt, assistant Sheriff’s Search and Rescue coordinator.

Krause had called his wife by cell phone Wednesday morning to report their situation, but Klatt said attempts to reach either hiker by cell phone were unsuccessful. Due to poor cell reception in the area, attempts to get GPS coordinates through their cell phone providers “yielded less than optimal results,” Klatt said.

The two men had started hiking near Dugout Lake and were heading to George Lake, where they planned to camp and do some fishing, Klatt said.

But the trail they were on became harder to follow due to many downed trees, the deputy said. The two men decided they could make better time by “bush-whacking” their way directly to the lake – but once off the trail, they became separated, Klatt said.

Krause was able to backtrack and reach their car before night fell, but was unable to find Baxendale, the officer said. He continued to search for his hiking partner, but then became disoriented himself, and both spent the night outdoors, he said.

Once notified, 27 Deschutes County SAR volunteers and two special services deputies responded to the call for help.

Baxendale was found on a Forest Service road less than a half-mile from their car, Klatt said. He had become disoriented while descending back to the car and was very tired but otherwise fine, Klatt said.

Less than an hour later, Krause was found by a SAR team near the base of Cache Mountain, about eight miles from their car. He was very tired but otherwise was doing well, the deputy said.

Klatt said the sheriff’s office wants to remind those traveling in the backcountry to be prepared for the unexpected and unplanned. He said they should carry appropriate equipment and supplies, and familiarize themselves with the area they are going to be traveling in.