Portland man dies hiking up South Sister Trail
A 63-year-old hiker from Portland died Tuesday while hiking up the South Sister, prompting other hikers’ unsuccessful efforts to revive him and a recovery effort that took several hours, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.
Deschutes County 911 dispatchers got a call just after 11 a.m. from hikers on the South Sister Trail who had found a hiker later identified as Thomas J. Shakespeare face-down and unresponsive, said sheriff’s Lt. Bryan Husband.
The hikers immediately called 911 and began CPR efforts, which were not successful, Husband said, adding that the man’s family has been notified.
Shakespeare was found about 4 miles in on the trail from the Devil’s Lake Trailhead, at an elevation of about 8,400 feet on the 10,358-foot peak. A trail maintenance technician arrived and agreed to stay with Shakespeare until sheriff’s office personnel arrived.
One sheriff’s sergeant and two deputies responded to investigate Shakespeare’s death, arriving shortly before 3:30 p.m., Husband said.
A total of 15 Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers also went to assist in bringing Shakespeare down off the mountain. The deputies and volunteers arrived back at the Devil’s Lake Trailhead with Shakespeare around 9:30 p.m.
Numerous hikers were contacted on the trail, Husband said, and while Shakespeare’s death “does not appear to be suspicious,” the investigation is continuing.
Husband asked that anyone who may have come in contact with him on the trail or witnessed his death call the sheriff’s office Special Services Unit at 541-388-6501.
