An overdue hiker was found safe after sheltering in place near Tumalo Falls Monday. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, at about 8:59 PM, deputies received a call that a 55-year-old Bend man was overdue on a hike. The reporting person used a find my phone application to determine that the missing subject parked his vehicle at the Tumalo Falls Trailhead.
Deputies responded to the area and checked some trails around Tumalo Falls. A deputy in the Special Services division was contacted and advised of the situation. The Special Services Deputy paged out Search and Rescue volunteers to respond and search for the missing male.
Searchers checked multiple trails on foot throughout the night and into the following day. Searchers were showing other hikers in the area a picture of the missing male and asking people to call if they saw the male. At about 11:10 AM, another hiker in the area called to report that they had located the male walking down a trail towards Tumalo Falls Parking area. Searchers responded to the area and contacted the missing hiker, who confirmed that he had lost his way as it got dark, so he sheltered in place over night and then began walking out the following morning. He was escorted back to his vehicle in the parking lot.
