Missing Hiker: Helicopter Tip Leads to New Search for Missing Portland Man

Less than 24 hours after the Marion County Sheriff's Office suspended the search for Riley Zickel, the Portland man missing in the Jefferson Wilderness, his family has started their own effort.

He was last heard from on July 27.

That effort led to a spotting by a private helicopter pilot of a possible body in a crevasse on the Jefferson Glacier in Linn County.

Based on the tip, the sheriff's office asked for the help of the Corvalis Mountain Rescue Team, which ascended Mt. Jefferson but did not any traces of Riley before having to turn back because of a storm.

The sheriff's office says that the family was present at the command center throughout the search and was aware of the decision.

More than 340 searchers dedicated about 5,000 hours to search 360 square miles of the Willamette National Forest north and south of Mt. Jefferson. They focused mostly on the area between Mt. Jefferson, Jefferson Park, Park Butte and the surrounding area.

Zickel, a graduate of Analy High School in Sebastopol, California, had told family on July 27th that he was heading into the Jefferson Wilderness and might attempt to summit Mt. Jefferson.

He also told them that he would leave the park on Thursday morning and head to Seattle to meet with friends and go on another hike.

The Sheriff's Office says it thinks Zickel has a cell phone with him but it has not been able to get a ping from it.

Deputies were able to find Zickel's vehicle on a trailhead that enters the park.

The Incident Commander, Sergeant Shane Burnham, directed the Marion County Search and Rescue Teams (SAR) and support personnel throughout the duration of the search. Our teams were backed up by SAR teams from Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Lane County Sheriff's Office, Linn County Sheriff's Office, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Benton County Sheriff's Office, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Pacific NW SAR, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Mountain Wave, Warm Springs Police, Fire and Fish and Game, United States Forrest Service, the Portland Police Bureau, Detroit and Idanaha Fire District and the Oregon State Parks Department. The Sheriff's Office would like to thank the citizens and business owners in the city of Detroit for their support during this very difficult search.

Salem based helicopters from the Oregon Army National Guard and Cessna 182 aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol flew daily above the search area, but were unable to spot any sign of Mr. Zickel. Hundreds of hikers were contacted during the search and missing person flyers were posted at trail heads along the Pacific Crest Trail as far south as Big Lake Youth Camp and north to Timberline Lodge.

"It is a very difficult decision to withdraw resources from this search," said Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers. Our SAR teams and staff worked tirelessly to find Mr. Zickel. We're very grateful for the assistance provided by our public safety partners, and our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Zickel's family."

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact a tip line set up by the sheriff's office at 503-584-SRCH or 503-584-7724.

Photo from the Marion County Sheriff's Office