SEARCH IN PROGRESS FOR MISSING SNOWBOARDER (UPDATE)

Hood River Co. Sheriff's Office

MOUNT HOOD, ORE. - Searchers worked throughout the day Wednesday, in an effort to locate missing snowboarder Ryan Mathers on Mt. Hood.  Mathers, who was reported missing to the Sheriff's Office on April 5, was not located during today's operations.  In addition to ground resources, air asset's from the Oregon Army National Guard and drones operated by Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue were utilized to supplement efforts.  More than forty ground searchers in fourteen teams covered a significant amount of area throughout the day.  Ground crews had to contend with increasing avalanche dangers in much of the search area as temperatures rose in the afternoon.  

Additional search efforts are planned for April 7, continuing to search the vast terrain accessed from the Shooting Star chair lift at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, Mr. Mathers last known location. Thursday's operations will utilize skiers in the black diamond and double black diamond areas in and around Heather Canyon and the Private Reserve.  

Assisting with search operations on April 6, 2022 were, Clackamas, Deschutes, and Lane County Sheriffs’ Office’s, Hood River Crag Rats, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, Eugene Mountain Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol and avalanche dog, Mt. Hood Meadows Public Safety, Oregon Army National Guard,  and Oregon Emergency Management.