Search to continue for missing Mt. Jefferson Wilderness hiker
The search for a Portland man missing in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area continued Monday, without success, and will resume Tuesday morning, officials said.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office and its Search and Rescue partners said they had contact with numerous hikers on the Pacific Coast Trail but have still not been able to locate an exact area Riley Zickel was last seen.
“We would like to thank the all of the volunteers that have been searching the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness sine Sunday,” Monday night’s update said. “We are asking that if you have seen Riley Zickel, please call 503-584-SRCH or 503-584-7724.”
Dozens of searchers on the ground and in the air continued their efforts Monday to find Zickel, 21, who is believed to have entered the wilderness area with the intent to explore the park and possibly summit Mt. Jefferson.
Deputies said Zickel told family he intended to exit the park Thursday to meet friends for another hike in the Seattle area.
He is believed to be carrying a cell phone but attempts to locate or “ping” the phone have been unsuccessful. Searchers believe the phone may be turned off.
On Monday morning, there were 34 searchers and a K-9 team on the ground scouring the area for Zickel.
Agencies assisting in the search are Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Wave Radio, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, US Forest Service, Army National Guard and the Civil Air Patrol.
Zickel entered the park Wednesday morning. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was contacted Saturday to report he was missing.
Around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, deputies found Zickel’s vehicle on a trailhead that enters Jefferson Park.
A major search effort launched Sunday, putting some 45 searchers into the park attempting to locate Zickel.
Monday’s search is focusing on Mt. Jefferson and the surrounding park areas.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has set up a tip line for anyone with information on the whereabouts of Zickel. If you were in the Jefferson Wilderness and had contact with or saw Zickel, please call 503-584-7724 or 503-584-SRCH.
At the request of Oregon Emergency Management, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center has assigned the Oregon Wing of the Civil Air Patrol to assist in the search, the organization said Monday.
The CAP will be using its specially equipped Cessna 182 search aircraft to assist by providing aerial communications support due to the rugged mountainous terrain in this mission, which makes normal ground radio communications difficult.
