Stuck Sunriver off-roader ate taco sauce packets to survive

(Update: Taylor comments on his Facebook page)

A Sunriver-area man whose SUV got stuck in the snowy woods for five days until he and his dog were rescued said he survived the ordeal by eating a few taco hot sauce packets he had on hand and periodically starting his rig, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said Saturday.

A snowmobiler contacted 911 dispatchers around 2:15 p.m. Friday to report that Jeremy Taylor, 36, had been found along Forest Service Road 40 near Wake Butte, west of Sunriver, Sgt. William Bailey said.

An Oregon Water Resources Department Sno-Cat with one Sheriff’s Search and Rescue member responded to the scene and contacted Taylor and his dog, Ally, Bailey said.

The pair was found to be in good condition but hungry after being stuck in the snow for five days, the sergeant said.

The man and his dog were brought to the intersection of Forest Service roads 40 and 45, where they were reunited with family and friends, he added.

Taylor, who enjoys off-roading, told deputies he’d gone up Road 40 last Sunday but got stuck in the snow. He awakened to even more snow and was still unable to get his black, 2000 Toyota 4Runner unstuck.

Taylor said he had tried to walk out on Monday, “but the deep snow made it very difficult and he and Allie returned to his vehicle,” Bailey said in a news release.

“Jeremy stayed warm over the next four days by periodically starting his vehicle and used a few taco sauce packets he had as food,” the sergeant said.

Bailey also said the sheriff’s office “would like to thank everyone who assisted with the search for Jeremy and his dog Ally.”

Later Friday, Taylor posted a brief note to his Facebook page:

“Thank you everyone, I’m safe, my Ally dog is safe,” Taylor wrote. “I really appreciate all the help. Got lucky, lets never do that again. I’ll be in touch with everyone soon.”

In the comment thread — with many friends relieved and thankful for his rescue — Taylor responded Saturday to one who noted the three taco sauce packets he survived on by writing: “Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives.”

The sheriff’s office had alerted the public on Wednesday to ask for help in finding Taylor, who had last been seen last Sunday getting gas in Sunriver. They said he was known to frequent the woods west of Sunriver, where he enjoyed offr-oading.