Search Continues for Overdue Hiker in the Jefferson Wilderness

Volunteers are searching for a Portland man, missing for nearly a full week now.

Call 503-584-SRCH or 503-584-7724 with any sign of Riley Zickel.

(DETROIT, Ore.) - 21-year old Ryan Zickel is the overdue hiker, missing since last Wednesday. He arrived in the Jefferson Wilderness with the intent to explore the park and possibly summit Mt. Jefferson, and planned on staying only one night at Jefferson Park.

Mr. Zickel told family he intended to exit the park Thursday to meet friends for another hike in the Seattle area.

He is an experienced hiker who is reported to have appropriate equipment for this trip and had adequate amount of food for about four days.

On Saturday, Zickel’s family contacted Marion County Sheriff’s Office because he had not returned.

That evening, about 6:30 p.m., Deputies located Ryan Zickel's vehicle on a trail head that enters Jefferson Park. A search for Ryan Zickel was launched by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue, assisted by Linn County Sheriff's Office, Polk County Sheriff's Office, United State Forest Service, and the Air National Guard.

There were search parties on the ground, via Posse and Air. Mr. Zickel is believed to be carrying a cell phone but attempts to locate or "ping" the phone have been unsuccessful; searchers believe the phone may be turned off.

Searchers discontinued their efforts for the night due to darkness and prepared for an early start the next day.

Sunday morning, a massive search effort was underway with 45 searchers working on foot, horseback and by air in an attempt to locate Riley. After a long and difficult day, again, the search was called off for darkness.

Monday there were 34 searchers and a K9 on the ground scouring the area focusing on Mt. Jefferson and the surrounding park areas. Deputies and searchers had contact with numerous hikers on the Pacific Coast Trail but were not able to locate an exact area Riley Zickel was last seen.

On Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m., 30 searchers resumed their efforts in the Willamette National Forrest near Mt. Jefferson. Searchers have completed checking the Mt. Jefferson area and have now moved north toward Park Butte and the Pacific Crest Trail.

Deputies still have no recent positive sightings of Riley Zickel. The Sheriff's Office and its Search and Rescue partners wrapped up the search activities for Tuesday August 2nd after 10 p.m., and will resume their search Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.

TIP LINE:

Agencies assisting in the search are Lane County Sheriff's Office, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Benton County Sheriff's Office, Crook County Sheriff's Office, Mountain Wave Radio, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, US Forest Service, Army National Guard and the Civil Air Patrol.