Mountain Biker reported missing in Oregon, ongoing search efforts

An avid mountain cyclist has been reported as missing in Oregon after not returning from a planned cycling trip near Mount Hood on Friday, according to the Sheriff’s Office of ClockMas County.

Ralph Sawyer, 52, was reported as disappeared on Friday at 10:30 pm after having left home that morning for a mountain bike trip and had not returned home at the expected time of 8:30 pm, authorities said in a statement Sunday.

“A search and rescue mission was immediately launched to locate it,” said the Sheriff’s office.

Sawyer, who has a “long mountain cycling history in the area and is familiar with the land”, has not been located, and officials enter their third day of search efforts on Monday, Sheriff’s office said.

The authorities were able to locate the Sawyer vehicle, a blue soul from Kia, at 12:15 am on Saturday. His cell phone was also found inside the vehicle, authorities said.

The authorities said that Sawyer’s search has focused along East Still Creed Road towards Lake Veda and Kinzel Lake, along with the roads of the United States forest service around Lake Trillium, which is about 40 miles southeast of Portland.

On Saturday, almost 40 people participated in the search for Sawyer, while around 70 were mobilized on Sunday, authorities said.

Atv, canine units and drones have also been used in search efforts, authorities said.

Sawyer, which is described as 6 feet, 1 inch high with brown hair, was last seen with an orange bicycle helmet, blue shirt and black shorts, the authorities said.