Missing mountain biker prompts extensive search efforts in Oregon
- Ralph Sawyer, a 52-year-old mountain biker, was reported missing on Friday after not returning from his trip near Mount Hood.
- His vehicle was found, but search efforts have not yet located him despite hundreds of personnel and various search technologies being deployed.
- The search will continue as authorities remain hopeful to find Sawyer safe.
In Oregon, an avid mountain biker named Ralph Sawyer was reported missing after failing to return home from a planned biking expedition near Mount Hood. Sawyer, who is 52 years old, had set out for his trip on a Friday morning, but when he did not arrive back by the estimated time of 8:30 p.m., concerned family members contacted authorities. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office initiated a search and rescue operation shortly thereafter, last hearing from Sawyer through his cellphone, which was found inside his vehicle that was discovered the next day. The search effort commenced in the early hours of Saturday morning, with officials locating Sawyer's vehicle, a blue Kia Soul, at approximately 12:15 a.m. However, despite ongoing search activities, Sawyer remained unaccounted for. The areas being targeted included East Still Creek Road leading to Veda Lake and Kinzel Lake, as well as several U.S. Forest Service roads near Trillium Lake, all situated about 40 miles southeast of Portland. Hoping to find Sawyer safe, nearly 40 searchers participated in the hunt on Saturday, while around 70 personnel were mobilized on the following day. The operations included a combination of ground teams, ATVs, and drones, as well as the air support of a helicopter from the Oregon National Guard. Search groups were reported covering vast distances, employing both traditional searching methods and advanced technologies, such as canine units and rope teams designed to navigate steep terrains. As the search entered its third day on the following Monday, an Air Force Reserve Command combat search and rescue unit supplemented the ongoing efforts, adding to the manpower and resources dedicated to finding Sawyer. The urgency of the situation was heightened by Sawyer's familiarity with the terrain, which raised hopes that he might have found refuge in a safe location. Officials, along with family and friends, remained hopeful yet increasingly anxious about his wellbeing as the search continued without success.