The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team located two missing hikers in the Columbia River Gorge after an overnight search that ended early on March 11.
The rescue highlights the challenges of hiking in rapidly changing weather conditions, especially during spring months when rain and wind can make navigation difficult. The incident began around noon on March 10, when the hikers left from the Horsetail Falls parking lot. By 7:45 p.m., one hiker called 9-1-1 to report they were lost, prompting a response from deputies who found their vehicle.
Search coordinators managed to contact the hikers by phone while dispatchers mapped their approximate location. Despite worsening weather, ground teams including MCSO Green Hornets deputies and search and rescue volunteers entered the field. The rescue teams reached the hikers at 11:56 p.m., then escorted them back through challenging terrain, arriving safely at the parking lot at 4:58 a.m.
According to officials, both hikers were wet and cold but uninjured. After warming up, they were able to drive themselves home. The operation involved two sergeants, four deputies, and twenty search and rescue volunteers.
The Sheriff’s Office reminded all hikers to prepare for sudden changes in weather by carrying essentials such as extra clothing layers and a reliable light source or flashlight. The Green Hornets Team is made up of deputies with advanced search skills who respond quickly to reports of missing or overdue hikers, focusing on rapid assessment and urgent medical care rather than slower grid searches.
No photos from this search are available.