Found Alive OR - Nathan Mitchell, 34, Wildwood Recreation Area, Mount Hood, 21 Oct 2017

  • #21
This backpack cover, is this something that can slip off easily and get lost without the owner noticing? Or does the fact that it was found mean something happened that caused it to fall off?

Also: what are the temps there right now?
 
  • #22
This backpack cover, is this something that can slip off easily and get lost without the owner noticing? Or does the fact that it was found mean something happened that caused it to fall off?

Also: what are the temps there right now?

I've never used one, but looked it up. It appears to cover, even surround the whole backpack, and seems that the only way to remove it is by taking off the backpack to do so.

Maybe he sat down to remove something from his pack...food/ water, flashlight whatever? and forgot to replace it?
 
  • #23
IMO the backpack cover is precisely for when the weather conditions are less than favorable. And also, I have had a cover come off without any help from me before because it wasn't secured well and I'd been moving really fast.

As time goes on, I feel less and less hopeful that Nathan could be ok somewhere, given the weather. But it is certainly possible - I hope the searchers are taking care of themselves (but moving quickly!)
 
  • #24
  • #25
weather today is ok (not ideal for hiking IMO, but I live in Arizona so 60 is very cold to me) but it was not ok over the weekend, when he went out.
 
  • #26
Yes, the weather has improved starting yesterday, with dry, sunny weather. Today it shows the weather in the high 60's, and tomorrow in the lower 60's. This is about as favorable as it could be this time of year in that area, so hopefully this will help.
 
  • #27
The search effort continued today, per Mountain Wave SAR twitter, but I don't see any news updates. Weather is turning more cloudy/foggy this afternoon. :(

In addition to the official search, lots of friends/volunteers put effort into searching miles of hiking trails - some very strenuous - that connect to the targeted wilderness areas (not the closed/official area itself) the past few days.
 
  • #28
God speed! I hope they find him today.
 
  • #29
According to weather.com it's currently around 60 degrees, at night around 40. That's cool but survivable? No rain indicated for today and onwards.

Could he be lost, or is it more likely that something happened to him? An accident, a medical episode?

https://weather.com/en-IN/weather/today/l/45.54,-121.57?par=google

It's so hard to rule a medical episode out completely. Since he's an experienced hiker, he would have prepped for this hike. Unless he was impaired by injury or another condition (hypothermia), he shouldn't have gotten lost. Here's his instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/nate_mitchell83/

You can see the storm arriving in his photos from that day.

Here's the Oregon Hikers entry on the trailhead: http://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Wildwood_Recreation_Area_Trailhead

With the photos, SAR should be able to place him along the trail with some good accuracy.

As further background, here's a trip report on the Boulder Ridge - Plaza - Bonanza Loop Trail that would be one good choice for a day hike from the Wildwood parking area: http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20619

Here’s a topo map showing the trails on and around Huckleberry Mountain (couldn't embed):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/4006943081_8a90898551_o.jpg

The most recent photo on Nate's instagram was id'd by hikers as likely being either at the junction of Boulder Ridge and Plaza trails or a bit further on descending from Huckleberry Mountain to the Bonanza Trail. The trip reports show an open mine shaft (Bonanza) on the trail that you could apparently enter and walk into several years ago (not sure of the condition today). I wouldn’t think that would necessarily be of great interest to a hiker unless he were into caves. I'd assume SAR checked that out.

His instagram shows that he enjoyed taking some gorgeous waterfall photos (which one should enjoy when hiking in Oregon). If you take the Bonanza trail off Huckleberry Mountain, you’ll walk along Cheeney Creek, which reportedly has several small waterfalls along the trail. It looks as though there’s also a short trail following the creek up to the headwaters, or, alternatively, up to an adjacent summit. Cheeney Creek feeds into the Salmon River, and following Bonanza Trail down to the River provides a few options for completing the loop.

If it were me, I’d plan on getting an early start to hike up and enjoy the view from Huckleberry Mountain, then take my time exploring the Cheeney Creek area on down to the river. If the storm moved in when he was approaching Huckleberry Mountain, he’d have 3 choices: turning around, moving over the rocky overview area (where he’d get hammered with rain / sleet / wind) to the Bonanza Trail (reportedly in good condition but has some rugged elevation changes), or attempting to shortcut the route back by taking the former Plaza Trail northeast, then cutting down to the Salmon River (which several hikers report doing despite it being only quasi-official).

If I had to guess, I’d say he kept going toward Bonanza and Cheeney Creek, got caught in the storm, slipped, fell and was injured somewhere near the top of the Bonanza Trail. An alternative might be that he tried walking up Cheeney Creek.

I have faith in the SAR team, but I'm worried about the amount of time that has passed. His instagram is full of beautiful images from his hikes. I sure hope he can continue to share that with everyone.
 
  • #30
I hate to ask this, but how is the wildlife there? I have not hiked in Oregon.

The reason I ask is because on one occasion I was confronted by a bear (grizzly).....and had to employ my bear spray when it appeared it would charge. We were 3 hikers. It scared me to death, and ever since I have a fear of a similar event....
Mind you, that was in Alaska....

I'm concerned about the backpack rain cover being located...

As a very experienced hiker and knowing the area, and being alone, I'd expect he would know what to do if confronted by such a danger, and he'd have the spray quickly accessible right?
Are bears and mountain lions present there?

I'm concerned about the lapse of time as well.....and the search is extensive with so many teams involved...
 
  • #31
I just got a voicemail that Nate was found alive, but no other info yet. Nothing reported yet.
 
  • #32
Fingers crossed he is okay.
 
  • #33
Please let this be a positive outcome!!
 
  • #34
  • #35
Wow great news! Maybe he was lost?
 
  • #36
  • #37
Omg this is fantastic news !!!
So happy for him and his loved ones ! :)
 
  • #38
!!! I was holding my breath until there was more news. But my SO said that he was up walking (from what they heard), and now there is the news update with a bit more info. I can't believe it!

Thank you to the Searchers, including Mountain Wave SAR (100% volunteer) and Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, and all others. Thank you for your persistent efforts in this difficult terrain, and for doing what you do.
 
  • #39
  • #40
"Mountain Wave reported that Mitchell was found safe in the Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness, several miles from where his car was parked.

Initial reports say he was found by a friend that he'd known since 3rd grade. She was with a group on the trail, calling his name when he answered.

He was found sitting on a log about 100 feet off of the trail, a Mountain Wave Search & Rescue member tells KATU News."

http://katu.com/news/local/hiker-found-safe-in-mt-hood-natl-forest-after-going-missing-for-5-days
 

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