Release By: Sergeant Jason Wall
Release Date: August 7, 2023
Hiker #1: 27-year-old male, Prineville, OR
Hiker #2: 25-year-old female, Napa, CA
Narrative:
On August 5, 2023, at approximately 6:00 pm, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue was dispatched to two lost and disorientated hikers between North and Middle Sister, near Hayden glacier. Due to poor weather conditions and remote location, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit requested assistance from a helicopter.
Lifeflight agreed to fly two DCSO SAR volunteers to a landing zone as close to the subjects as possible. Lifeflight transported the volunteers to the landing zone arriving at 8:50 pm. The location of the landing zone was approximately 1.8 miles from the lost hikers. SAR volunteers arrived at the lost hikers at 12:30 am.
SAR volunteers advised the female hiker had an injury to her ankle which prevented her from continuing down the mountain without the assistance of an Air Ambulance. SAR sheltered with subjects overnight and waited for availability of an air ambulance. Visibility cleared and Air Link was able to fly reaching a landing zone at approximately 11:00 am. The female was transported to St. Charles Bend via air ambulance for further evaluation and treatment of her injuries.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Street Crimes, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves 210,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 265 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 195 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
