A Pacific Crest Trail hiker was located by search and rescue teams in the Willamette National Forest this week after calling to report himself lost.
Robert Campbell, age 50, began his Pacific Crest Trail journey near the Mexican border in May and has traveled over 2,000 miles since then. But at approximately 1:30 p.m., Campbell called 911 to report that he was lost in the woods somewhere near Detroit.
Search and rescue teams were scrambled and remained on the scene until after after midnight before the efforts were suspended for the night. Campbell was successfully located at around 2:30 p.m. Friday, more than 24 hours after his 911 call, when rescuers found fresh footprints in the snow.
Campbell told deputies he lost the trail after encountering “blizzard-like conditions.” At the time he was found, Campbell had no food and had lost some of his hiking equipment due to the treacherous weather conditions.
Campbell was evaluated by medics in the field and has declined any further medical treatment. Deputies took Campbell to Detroit, where a local motel provided a complimentary room for him to recover in for the night.
