Date: 02/27/18
By: Lt. Bryan Husband, DCSO SAR Coordinator
Rescued: Jesse Bupp, 25 year old male, Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania
On 02/27/18, at about 7:18am, 9-1-1 Dispatch received a call from Jesse Bupp, who reported he had camped overnight on the Tumulus Trail (east of Bend and accessed off of Walker Rd), was extremely cold and could not walk due to his feet and lower legs being completely numb and possibly frostbit. Bupp reported having appropriate clothing for the conditions as well as food and water, although his water supply had frozen overnight. Bupp had started a warming fire at one point, but it had since burned out.
Nine Deschutes County Sheriff‘s Office Search and Rescue Volunteers, one DCSO SAR Horse and one DCSO Deputy responded to the Tumulus Trail head and hiked approximately 5.5 miles, arriving at Bupp’s location at 11:35am. Bupp was provided warm clothing, blankets and fluids, but he was not able to stand or walk under his own power, due to the condition of his feet. It was determined Bupp could safely ride on horseback and was assisted onto the DCSO SAR Horse. Bupp’s camp was packaged and he was led out by the DCSO SAR Volunteers.
Bend Fire Department personnel, as well as Volunteers from the Alfalfa Fire District, met the DCSO SAR Volunteers and Bupp at the Tumulus Trail Head, at approximately 1:45pm. Bend Fire Department personnel transported Bupp to St. Charles Hospital in Bend for further evaluation.
Bupp had many appropriate supplies needed for camping in winter weather conditions, including many warm clothing layers, food, water, fire starting material, GPS, cell phone with charging device, etc. He did not have a sleeping pad to act as a barrier between his sleeping bag and the cold ground, which most likely sped up the process of him becoming cold.
