OR OR - Sherry Wellwood, 46, Portland hospital, 10 Dec 2019 *car found*

[Luckyzmom]

Thanks very much @Bigfoot1977 appreciate your time and willingness to search out there, have you had a lot of snow since mid Dec ? Was it possible that weather left Sherry stranded there ?

 

[Bigfoot1977]

Thanks very much @Bigfoot1977 appreciate your time and willingness to search out there, have you had a lot of snow since mid Dec ? Was it possible that weather left Sherry stranded there ?

Yes I feel that she parked up there and got snowed in. And since that time it has snowed multiple times at that elevation followed by periods below freezing making the road all ice/snow at this point and dangerously unpassable IMO this is why no searches are happening yet.

 

[PommyMommy]

Yes I feel that she parked up there and got snowed in. And since that time it has snowed multiple times at that elevation followed by periods below freezing making the road all ice/snow at this point and dangerously unpassable IMO this is why no searches are happening yet.

Thank you so much for your efforts to find her. You're a keeper!

 

[YaYa_521]

Welcome, Bigfoot! Ty for you search efforts and updates. Your report of footprints, etc. hopefully will help LE focus their search whenever they are able. Be safe out there.

Prayers for Sherry's safe return.

 

[YaYa_521]

Bump. No updates found.

 

[chasizzler]

I just became aware of this case 20 minutes or so ago, so I apologize if I'm missing something. Do we know what she purchased in Eugene and Myrtle Creek? Obviously it could be gas or food, but might play important role into what she was planning to do on that mountain. It seems that if she was coming down I-5, the most direct route to the road her car was found on would be through Murphy as shown:

The following image has the highlighted road I understand her car to be found on:

The road basically follows a steep ridgeline. Pretty rugged terrain there. I find it interesting that there is a trail (dotted line) near the southern end of the road. Anybody know what that goes to?

Also interesting that there are two mines nearby. I wonder if they're open?

Why would she leave the sleeping bag, tarp, and jacket in her car if she got stuck and was making a break for town?

Very strange that she would come to this remote mountain that she seemingly doesn't have any ties to.

 

[PommyMommy]

I just became aware of this case 20 minutes or so ago, so I apologize if I'm missing something. Do we know what she purchased in Eugene and Myrtle Creek? Obviously it could be gas or food, but might play important role into what she was planning to do on that mountain. It seems that if she was coming down I-5, the most direct route to the road her car was found on would be through Murphy as shown:

The following image has the highlighted road I understand her car to be found on:

The road basically follows a steep ridgeline. Pretty rugged terrain there. I find it interesting that there is a trail (dotted line) near the southern end of the road. Anybody know what that goes to?

Also interesting that there are two mines nearby. I wonder if they're open?

Why would she leave the sleeping bag, tarp, and jacket in her car if she got stuck and was making a break for town?

Very strange that she would come to this remote mountain that she seemingly doesn't have any ties to.

No details on the purchases in Eugene and Myrtle Creek AFAIK. Thank you for the maps. MOO

 

[Bigfoot1977]

First off "roads" is a very loose term out here lol. What appears to be a "road" on some of these maps can be nothing more than a gravel road many of which are washed out in areas, downed trees blocking them, fallen rocks/boulders, etc.

I intend to drive the route out of Murphy but I suspect snow/ice will once again prevent me from getting to the road her vehicle was found on.

Any dotted trails are just that trails. Many of these BLM roads were once logging roads long since out of use since they aren't allowed to log anymore.

I attempted to come in from the south out of CJ mostly because the sun lately has melted more snow on that side of the mountains but that road was treacherous on a large truck.

Also I have passed multiple signs about "mines" on the roads leading to the road where her vehicle was found but they are marked private property/no trespassing and in such remote locations I wouldn't tempt fate.

I will post any updates after I try the roads out of Murphy. Deer Creek Road out of Selma is paved most of the way and so far out of the roads I tried the best option but it reaches such elevations there is way to much snow/ice it's unpassable.

Lastly since they found a beanie cap with butterflies on it outside the vehicle I can't help but speculate hypothermia to be a factor here. It gets REALLY cold at night here on the valley floors I can't imagine at that elevation it not being a factor.

I am still at a loss why she ended up way out here though. Let's keep her in our prayers and I will post more on the Murphy road conditions soon.

I just became aware of this case 20 minutes or so ago, so I apologize if I'm missing something. Do we know what she purchased in Eugene and Myrtle Creek? Obviously it could be gas or food, but might play important role into what she was planning to do on that mountain. It seems that if she was coming down I-5, the most direct route to the road her car was found on would be through Murphy as shown:

The following image has the highlighted road I understand her car to be found on:

The road basically follows a steep ridgeline. Pretty rugged terrain there. I find it interesting that there is a trail (dotted line) near the southern end of the road. Anybody know what that goes to?

Also interesting that there are two mines nearby. I wonder if they're open?

Why would she leave the sleeping bag, tarp, and jacket in her car if she got stuck and was making a break for town?

Very strange that she would come to this remote mountain that she seemingly doesn't have any ties to.

 

[chasizzler]

Lastly since they found a beanie cap with butterflies on it outside the vehicle I can't help but speculate hypothermia to be a factor here. It gets REALLY cold at night here on the valley floors I can't imagine at that elevation it not being a factor.

I am still at a loss why she ended up way out here though. Let's keep her in our prayers and I will post more on the Murphy road conditions soon.

Yeah, those roads aren't a joke and the one with her car seems to be around 4,600ft or higher! Be careful out there! If the beanie is indeed hers (we don't seem to have 100% confirmation), I think it is an important clue. It says it was found on a narrow road above where her car was parked, so the only one road (on the maps) that matches that description is highlighted in blue. We can also assume that her car was parked on the southern end of the yellow road since that is the only place a road is above it.

If I was searching this area, I would check the the two peaks around the blue road. Perhaps she was trying to get to a high point? They wouldn't be a far walk from her car. The fact that she didn't bring the tarp, and sleeping bag is worrisome. She may have been attempting to scout a spot to camp with a nice view (around the peak areas) and took a fall. She likely wouldn't have had the gear to do any of this safely though in these conditions.

The other spot I would look is along that dotted trail which also follows another ridge, which would have some nice views. This would also be close to where she parked the car. I'm sure they checked most of these areas already (except maybe those two peaks above the blue road), but it sounds like they couldn't do that thorough of a search from weather.

It's also possible that she met someone up there and they took their vehicle, whether planned or unplanned. Unplanned would be most likely since I'd assume they'd be able to check into phone records.

 

[Bigfoot1977]

I spent about 5 hours today out hiking some of BLM 37-6-36. I came in through Murphy and took Spencer Creek Road to it. Gravel road but quite a bit of activity. Lots of hunters and multiple times I encountered people shooting target practice.

Spencer Creek Rd did not have any snow but as I got to BLM 37-6-36 I encountered a guy on a dirt bike with snow tires/gear. He advised me he almost got stuck in the snow on BLM 37-6-36. He claimed he went in pretty far but he feels it's unpassable. After advising him of Sherry's car being found back in Dec (he was unaware) he said he would report anything he finds to JCSO as he rides his dirt bike up there frequently.

After his advice I parked my car where it was safe at the intersection of Spencer Creek Rd and BLM 37-6-36. I then noted this as I set out on my hike. So although this is a very remote location at a high elevation people are hunting/camping/shooting out here regularly.

Ok I have alot more to post on my findings during my mile hike up BLM37-6-36 and I took lots of pics. I will post more later tonight and tomorrow AM.

 

[Bigfoot1977]

So I start my hike up BLM 37-6-36 and I suspect I went about 1 mile up the road and these are photos of where I went to what looks to be called "Morgan's Buckhorn" on the map.

Lots of signs of activity in this area I will document with my pics.

I will say it is some of the most beautiful scenic landscapes this area has to offer. I can see why people frequent this location. I hope Sherry is ok where ever she is.....but if these areas were her last views snow or not it's breathtaking.

 

[Bigfoot1977]

So here are pics of on BLM 37-6-36 at Morgan's Buckhorn area. Clearly this is a spot people shoot, hunt, camp, etc. I found shell casings everywhere. Fire pit and some interesting path ledge someone built with rocks. There clearly has been wild fires in years past and looks like loggers were allowed to take out the damaged trees. The third picture of the hill with the snow is where I found alot of shoe/boot prints in the snow up what appears to be a old logging road.

 

[Bigfoot1977]

More from Morgan's Buckhorn area

I will post more later tonight or in the AM about my hike to top of Morgan's Buckhorn with pics and I went about a 1/4 mile east & west of the road at Morgan's Buckhorn.

I also will post some photos on the road conditions if Sherry went further south past Morgan's Buckhorn it's alot more snow, some steep downgrades and trees blocking areas of the road.

I wish I had a exact location of which peak her vehicle was closest to when it went off this road. Also in the future if anyone wants to volunteer more people would be needed and a large truck with 4x4 capabilities.

Hope any of this helps in any way? Keeping her in my prayers.

 

[chasizzler]

That is commendable to devote so much of your time and resources to this Bigfoot. Really awesome! I would love to go, but live about five hours away.

Interesting that a lot of people are using the area and that the southern part of the road is hard to get to. That is where I think her car was parked. It seems to me that someone may have told her about this spot? Why else would she know about it? If so, that person could likely give some clues about why she was out there. It also makes it more likely that she met somebody out there and left with them.

Wonder what the conditions were like up there Dec 11-Dec19.

 

[Bigfoot1977]

More stuff from the road area at "Morgan's Buckhorn"

 

[Bigfoot1977]

So while at "Morgan's Buckhorn" I noticed vultures in the air circling around the peak. As I checked the snow on the logging road/trail I found repeated areas of the same shoe/boot print going up and down this hill and although not the smartest move I followed them to the top area where the vultures were circling.

(This is NOT recommended I almost took a dive myself)

First photos is the direction up the hill I went and the arrow points to where I saw the prints. I wear size 12 1/2 and these were 3-4 sizes smaller than my boot. Maybe from Hunter or SAR checking the area. The shoe prints were old and had been snowed upon.

The hike up the hill was gnarly as the snow does not look deep but that is because it's sitting on Manzanita and downed tree limbs/debris which means sometimes you step and sink through 2-3 feet deep in some spots.

Also I found ALOT of mountain lion prints in this area. Cougars are def roaming these mountain tops.

 

[Bigfoot1977]

At the top of "Morgan's Buckhorn" where I had seen the vultures. Pretty spot but way high elevation, thick snow and underbrush, very hard to search as lots of places where if Sherry or anyone went down they could be A) under the snow, B) behind any of the numerous tree stumps, logs or rocks.

 

[Bigfoot1977]

This is BLM 37-6-36 as you come off the top of "Morgan's Buckhorn" heading south. The snow gets a bit deeper on the road and under it is ice. Also downed tree limbs were blocking some areas. I walked through but had to clear some and I suspect just past the fallen tree limbs where the ice/snow got deeper is where dude almost got his dirt bike stuck.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

@Bigfoot1977 Thank you so much for your efforts! It warms my heart to know there are still people willing to help strangers. Take care of yourself on your hikes. Your pictures are great and are giving fantastic perspective to the conditions in which Sherry is missing.

 

[Bigfoot1977]

That is commendable to devote so much of your time and resources to this Bigfoot. Really awesome! I would love to go, but live about five hours away.

Interesting that a lot of people are using the area and that the southern part of the road is hard to get to. That is where I think her car was parked. It seems to me that someone may have told her about this spot? Why else would she know about it? If so, that person could likely give some clues about why she was out there. It also makes it more likely that she met somebody out there and left with them.

Wonder what the conditions were like up there Dec 11-Dec19.

I suspect if she got up to BLM 37-6-36 on 12/11 or 12/12 she prolly hit light to mild snow. I don't think she just "parked" as the media/sheriff report did say the car was "stuck" which I suspect means she got into ice/snow and went off the road a bit. Also even if she didn't hit that much ice/snow it is very slippery/muddy as well in spots and a car is not suited for this area. Just seems like a recipe for disaster. Then I know we got hit with the first big snow of the year earlier than usual I wanna say it was between 12/14 to 12/16. If she was already off the road/stuck then the snow just piled up on around her car.

Since the sheriff said the snow was black at the tailpipe area this means she was living/sleeping/camping in around the car.

The questions I still have are:

A) why this location? How did she possibly find this place by herself. She had to be creeping like no more than 10 miles per hour up this gravel/rock/mud road of Spencer Creek and then take on possible ice/snow going further up BLM 37-6-36. This part makes zero sense.

B) why did she leave the car? It was her only shelter in freezing night time temps. Then to leave the car and not take her purse/phone/etc. Makes no sense.

I think realistic options are:

1) She planned on "camping" got stuck, hypothermia kicked in on the coldest snowy nights and she exited the car in such condition making a really bad decision.

2) Someone (creepy Hunter type guy) came upon her in her vehicle and forced her out (hence all her belongings being left behind) If Sherry was not armed....well everyone else up in this area is (& should be) and she could have become a victim. (I did see some creeper guy living out of a van on BLM land on the way up Spencer Creek & if she went down the south side towards Selma or or worse the CJ side there is ALOT of sketchy meth camps/people)

3) Maybe while stranded in the car she saw headlights or signs of a hunter and quickly exited the vehicle to get help. (But why she would leave her belongings unless it was just to dangerous to go back?). And if this last one happened why have we not heard from her or the person who found her?