South Sister family hike goes awry; safety tips given

The six-mile trail to the summit of South Sister is one of the most popular hikes Central Oregon has to offer, for families and experienced hikers alike.

It’s also very “popular” for Deschutes Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, and this weekend was no different.

On Sunday, a family of seven for Corvallis set off for a hike up the over 10,000-foot peak.

“At some point on their descent, the weather changed on them, cloud cover came in and impeded their progress,” sheriff’s Lt. Bryan Husband said Tuesday.

When clouds move in, things can change quickly.

“This time of year generally is a tough time of year, because you are starting in a non-snow condition down below, and you are climbing up into a snow condition,” Husband said.

That can make a summer hike quickly feel like winter.

“I saw it on the summit yesterday (Monday) — a cloud moved in and covered the summit,” said Bob Harrison, an avid hiker.

“The high mountains are pretty socked in, the higher up you go — a lot of ice and danger,” said Bend resident Duane Myers.

Central Oregon is no stranger to visitors, but no matter where you are from, you’re urged to stay safe.

“Coming out here to Oregon, how huge the wilderness is. I had a bunch of people tell me, ‘Don’t go anywhere without telling people where you are going,'” Myers said.

Here are some of your 10 essentials to survival, according to SAR: Navigation, sun protection, insulation, first aid, emergency shelter — and your phone always helps, too!

“Luckily, cell phones work everywhere. You can post selfies in the middle of Devils Lake,” Myers said.

If you do call for help, stay put!

“It’s a lot easier for our volunteers to find them that way and bring them back,” Husband said.

When planning to brave the mountains, don’t try to out-smart the mountain.

“It can fool you, and one of the things that happens on a lot of mountain is that it’s easy to go up,” Harrison said.

But what goes up, must come down.

“When you are at the top and turn around to come down, and you’re off just a little bit, you will miss the place you are trying to get to by a lot,” Harrison said.

For more safety tips visit www.deschutessearchandrescue.org