Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that earlier today the body of missing climber Jeffrey Dale, 29 of Texas, was recovered. Jeffrey was reported missing in the afternoon of June 30, 2022 and had last been seen near the summit of Mount Jefferson, near the 10,200’ elevation mark on the mountain.
Days of searching by a multitude of area teams ensued, and with assistance from the Civil Air Patrol high-resolution imagery was captured of the mountain near where Jeffrey was last seen. Upon reviewing the images, search and rescue teams identified where Jeffrey was located. His body was found more than 1,800’ down the mountain from the point he was last seen, indicating he likely fell during his climb.
Friends of Jeffrey Dale started a GoFundMe page, raising more than $15,000 to help pay for a private helicopter from Leading Edge Aviation out of Bend, Oregon. With the use of a Leading Edge Aviation helicopter, experienced mountain rescue climbers from Eugene Mountain Rescue were able to be dropped off on the mountain near Jeffrey’s body. The rescue team and the helicopter then conducted a short-haul lift of Jeffrey’s body to a nearby landing zone. The helicopter was able to return to the mountain, and picked up the four Eugene Mountain Rescue Unit climbers.
Jeffrey Dale’s body was later taken to Weddle Funeral Home.
Sheriff Duncan wants to express her thanks to all those agencies who assisted in the days of searching for Jeffrey Dale, including today’s recovery, including 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, and Eugene Mountain Rescue.