Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports search teams are actively searching Mount Jefferson after her office received a report of a missing climber on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 3:51 p.m. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received the report, with information that the missing climber was last seen near the summit of Mount Jefferson, near the 10,200’ elevation mark on the mountain.
Deputies contacted two witnesses climbing with Jeffrey Dale, 29, of Texas, who stated they lost sight of Jeffrey near the summit after Jeffrey decided to push toward the summit, even though his group turned around due to the conditions. Jeffrey is described as an experienced climber, completing difficult climbs in the past.
Numerous search and rescue resources continue to search the summit area of Mount Jefferson for Jeffrey. Several helicopter flights have been conducted and more than a dozen technical climbers have responded to the area to assist with searching. Weather conditions and treacherous terrain make this already difficult search even more dangerous as teams conduct an extensive search in hopes of locating Jeffrey.
Resources assisting the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in the search include Linn County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue Post, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Lane County Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, Life Flight and Oregon Army National Guard. Additional resources are expected as the search continues by air and ground.