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CCSO Case #24-023424
Family notifications are complete, and the identity of the hiker found deceased is James Robert MacDonald, 33 of Ridgefield, WA. Our condolences go out to his family during this difficult time.
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EARLIER (Nov. 8, 2024): Sheriff’s Office locates missing hiker deceased in the Mt. Hood National Forest
On Friday, November 8, 2024, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office located a missing hiker deceased following an extensive search and rescue operation near the Paradise Park Trail in the Mt. Hood National Forest, near Welches.
Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, the 33-year-old hiker’s family reported that they were overdue from what was supposed to be a day hike. The hiker was known to be experienced but was not carrying gear for overnight conditions and was last heard from around 2:00 p.m. earlier that day.
Immediately following the report of the missing hiker, the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue coordinators mobilized our volunteer teams with Clackamas County Search and Rescue (CSAR). They quickly located what appeared to be the missing hiker’s tracks in the snow, prompting an extensive search of the area.
Multiple agencies and resources were activated to join the search efforts, including teams from Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR), Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue (PNWSAR), and the Hood River Crag Rats. Air support was provided by a helicopter from the Oregon National Guard, a fixed-wing plane from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, and drones, enhancing visibility and reach in the challenging terrain. Mountain Wave Emergency Communications also supplied vital communication support for teams across the rugged landscape.
The search continued into Friday when the hiker was found deceased shortly before 10:30 a.m. by a PMR search team near the Hidden Lake Trail. The identity of the hiker will not be released until family notifications are complete. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office does not believe this death appears suspicious. The Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office will continue investigating to determine the cause of death.
CCSO Case #24-023424
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Sgt. Ross Clemson, Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Communications Unit
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