Portland Hiker Missing 5 Days Found Alive: Clackamas Sheriff

WELCHES, OR — A 34-year-old Portland hiker who'd been missing near Welches since Oct. 22 was reportedly found alive Thursday after spending five days alone in the wilderness south of Mt. Hood. Clackamas County Sheriff's officials made the announcement via Twitter at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

After spending five days searching a 40-square-mile area, search and rescue teams reportedly found Nathan Charles Mitchell in a drainage area near Salmon River Road in the Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness, KGW News reported.

Mitchell's father reportedly called police Oct. 22 when Mitchell did not return from a day hike in the Wildwood Recreation Area, where his family found his car at about 1 a.m. Sunday.

Nearly 40 people from multiple search and rescue organizations covered roughly 40 square miles of rough Mt. Hood wilderness in search of Mitchell, Clackamas County Sheriff's officials said. Helicopter crews from the Oregon Army National Guard also contributed to the search effort.

"This is a really proud, good moment for everyone involved," Clackamas County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Brian Jensen told KGW reporters.

Using photos that Mitchell reportedly sent to a friend during his hike, searchers were able to identify places he'd been. Searchers also reportedly found a rain cover from Mitchell's backpack about five miles from his car.

KGW said Mitchell was found wet and tired but otherwise in good condition.

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