DCSO SAR RESCUES LOST BACK COUNTRY SPLIT BOARDER NEAR MORAINE LAKE

News Release from Deschutes Co. Sheriff’s Office
Posted on FlashAlert: June 8th, 2017 3:08 PM
By: Lt. Bryan Husband, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Special Services Coordinator
Date: 06/08/17

Rescued Subject: Adam Redfield, 24 year old male, Bend, OR

On 06/07/17, at 4:15pm, Deschutes County 9-1-1 received a call from an employee of International Emergency Response Coordination, reporting one of their clients, Adam Redfield, had activated the “SOS” feature on his “SPOT” device in the area between South Sister and Broken Top, near Moraine Lake. Attempts were made to contact Redfield on his cell phone without success. There was no way to contact Redfield via his SPOT device to determine the nature of his current situation or problem.

A DCSO Special Services Deputy responded to the area of the Devil’s Lake Trail head and located Redfield’s vehicle. Contact was also made with Redfield’s friends and family members, who confirmed he had set out that morning at about 4:30am, intending to summit South Sister and then return home. Redfield was described as being very experienced in the back country and avalanche trained.

Seven DCSO SAR Volunteers responded to the trail head and “skinned”, skied and “booted” into the Moraine Lake area, and began their search in intermittent rainy conditions. At approximately 9:10pm, DCSO SAR teams established voice contact with Redfield, who had sought shelter in a snow cave. DCSO SAR teams physically located Redfield at approximately 9:30pm and determined he had become lost, but was not injured. Redfield had summitted South Sister earlier in the day and his cell phone battery had died. Redfield had become disoriented during his descent becoming lost, at which time he activated the SOS feature on his SPOT device.

Redfield was cold and tired, but otherwise was able to travel under his own power, following DCSO SAR teams back down to the Cascade Lakes Highway, arriving at about 12:32am. Redfield had not known if his SPOT device worked and was preparing to spend the night, although he had not brought overnight supplies with him. The DCSO Deputy and DCSO SAR Volunteers further assisted Redfield back to his home in Bend.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind those that recreate outdoors to prepare accordingly for your activity. Some considerations include proper clothing for day and night conditions in your environment, even if you do not expect to be out over night. Ensure you have adequate water and food, topographical trail maps, extra batteries or charging options for phones or GPS units. Bring a light source and a signaling device. Seek out information regarding the area and what may be encountered, such as current and projected weather conditions as well as terrain in the area. Tell someone where you are going, what you will be taking with you and when you plan to return.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office strongly encourages those recreating in the outdoors to do so with a partner(s) and not separate.