08/28/2024
08/27/2024 – Two search and rescue missions, spanning over three days, continue to keep the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office and volunteers busy over the past weekend. On 08/22/2024, the Skamania County Communications Center received a report from the Washington State Emergency Management Division of a personal locator emergency activation on the Loowit Trail, northwest of the Ape Canyon Trailhead, on Mount Saint Helens. The hiker reported being lost, although the coordinates showed the hiker on or near the Loowit Trail. Despite relaying this information, the hiker did not want to continue and requested rescue. Due to the time of the activation, a Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator secured search volunteers from the Volcano Rescue Team for 6:30 AM the following day. On 08/23/2024, Volcanic Rescue Team Personnel located the hiker and were able to guide them back to their vehicle at the trailhead.
On 08/24/2024, the Skamania County Communications Center received information from Clark County regarding a missing person reported in their county. The missing person’s vehicle was located at Swift Forest Camp, near Swift Reservoir, in Skamania County. A Skamania County Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned and volunteers from the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team responded to the area. The missing person was located near Milepost 8 on the United States Forest Service 90 Road and safely returned to Clark County.