A mountain biker who vanished near Mount Hood National Forest has been found alive after an incredible six-day survival ordeal—and in true Oregon fashion, he walked out of the woods, loaded up his bike, and drove himself home.
The search for 52-year-old Ralph Sawyer began on Friday, July 11, after his wife Marcy reported him missing near Trillium Lake. His car was located parked at a trailhead with his cell phone accidentally left inside.
What followed was a massive search effort involving more than 70 searchers from multiple agencies, including Clackamas County Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, Hood River Crag Rats, and the Oregon National Guard. Teams used ATVs, motorbikes, drones, and even a National Guard helicopter to cover over 250 miles of rugged terrain.
According to KATU News, technical rope teams were deployed to navigate steep drop-offs while crews on the ground combed dense brush and forest. But despite their tireless efforts, Sawyer remained missing for days.
Then, on Thursday morning, in an unexpected twist, Sawyer emerged from the forest, returned to his vehicle, retrieved his bike from where he had stashed it, and drove himself home.
“Mr. Sawyer showed up to a neighbor’s house tired, cold, dirty, and worn out,” the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Police confirmed his identity, and he was taken to a hospital to be checked out.
Family friend Diane Brown told KATU that Sawyer had lost his footing on the trail early in his ride and ended up sliding down a steep incline into dense brush. With no way to climb back up, he began following a stream downhill in hopes of finding a road.
“He ran out of water and had to drink from the stream, which made him very sick,” Brown said. “But somehow, he pushed through.”
Jennifer Burkhart, another friend of the family, described the moment they learned Sawyer had made it out on his own: “There really aren’t words. I’m just so grateful for Marcy and Finn and their family. It’s incredible.”
While the search teams didn’t get to him first, their coordinated efforts blanketed the area and kept hope alive during the tense week. And thanks to Sawyer’s grit and determination, this Oregon wilderness story ended with relief instead of tragedy.
