Over 90% of Skamania County is public land. It provides water and terrain for every type of inland outdoor recreation invented so far, from caving to skiing down volcanos. It contains the bulk of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and provides prime habitat for mushrooms. In 2024, Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue teams conducted twelve searches for missing people. Three of those searches were for mushroom hunters. There were also two for berry pickers, four for hikers, one for mountain bikers, and one for Sasquatch hunters.

Three of the lost persons were found deceased. An additional search was performed for a missing person that was presumed deceased and there are others that have not yet been found. In addition to searches, there were more than twenty calls to rescue or recover injured, stranded, or deceased recreationalist.

These are only the incidents that involved Search and Rescue. There are many more where people were able to be extricated after being lost, stranded, or injured, without involving SAR. We go out in the backcountry thinking that we’ll make it home safe, however, getting disoriented, stranded, or injured does happen. This talk will present practical and pragmatic ways to:

● Prepare for entering the backcountry
● Avoid getting lost
● Get unlost
● Get help
● Get found

This knowledge may save your life someday. Spread this knowledge to others and it may save theirs.