Released by: Deputy Donny Patterson – Assistant Search and Rescue Coordinator
Date/time: 09/26/21 at 1:46 PM
Location: Camp Lake near the Middle Sister
Injured: 55-year-old male – Portland, OR
On 09/26/21 at approximately 1:46 PM, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a Deputy with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office regarding a hiker with a leg injury that was unable to walk. The hiker was reported to be in Lane County’s jurisdiction, on southwest side of the Middle Sister, in the Three Sisters Wilderness. His three hiking partners were attempting to escort the injured party back to their camp that was located in Deschutes County at Camp Lake.
Lane County advised they were attempting to coordinate both a land, and/or air rescue for this injured subject and they had been in contact with the Oregon National Guard checking on the availability of a helicopter. While possible contingency plans were being established, it was determined that Lane County was unable to obtain the assistance of the Oregon National Guard and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team was needed to assist.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team then contacted AirLink for assistance. Two SAR members responded to the AirLink hanger in Bend and were flown to the area of the hiking party. At approximately 4:55 hours, AirLink landed near Camp Lake and the two SAR members hiked up to the injured hiker reaching the hiking party at approximately 4:59 PM. The hiker’s injuries were evaluated and he was prepared for air transport by the SAR team members.
The SAR team members transported the injured hiker to a location where Air Link was able to land. The hiker was then loaded and transported via AirLink to the Saint Charles Medical Center. The SAR team members then hiked approximately 7-Miles back to the Pole Creek Trailhead with the rest of the hiking party.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank AirLink for their assistance in this rescue.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 191 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
