LAKE WENATCHEE — A bear hunter lost for two nights in the Poe Mountain area northwest of here was rescued this morning by a Chelan County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team.
LorIn Anderson, 43, of Montesano, near Aberdeen, was located about 9 a.m. today in the Little Wenatchee River drainage and lifted by helicopter to a nearby trailhead, according to Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett.
Anderson was uninjured and in good condition, said the sheriff. The hunter reportedly had carried provisions for a lengthy hike and was wearing camouflage clothing.
The hunter was reported missing Tuesday morning by his father, who had called the sheriff’s office to say his son had not shown up for work on Monday. Anderson’s vehicle was found soon after parked at a trailhead in the Poe Mountain area.
About 4 p.m. Tuesday, members of the county’s seach and rescue ground team heard shouts from Anderson but couldn’t locate him in steep terrain with thick vegetation. Four members of the search and rescue team and two members of the Chelan County Sheriff’s Volunteer Services searched in the area until 2 a.m. today.
Searchers heard Anderson’s shouts again around 7 this morning and located him by helicopter two hours later. Anderson told searchers he took a wrong turn near Poe Mountain and hiked closer to Irving Peak, about two miles to the east. When he realized he was lost, Anderson decided to stay put, said the sheriff.
Burnett reminded hikers to carry proper equipment on trails — food, water, shelter and perhaps a GPS locator unit or locator beacon.
Comments