Lost Hiker Rescued in Eagle Cap Wilderness in Baker County
By Joe Hathaway on Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY — A Portland woman has been rescued after she got lost hiking in the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
50-year-old Susan Mikkelsen found herself lost in the Eagle Cap Wilderness on September 8, 2023, around 1:14 p.m. She made an incomplete 911 call, explaining her situation to dispatch. She mentioned being low on water and in need of assistance. To pinpoint her location, dispatchers instructed her to disconnect and redial 911, but they didn’t receive a call back due to poor cell signal.
Responding to the situation, Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash dispatched a team from Baker County Search and Rescue to check the East Eagle Trailhead parking lot. They found Mikkelsen’s vehicle, along with a wilderness visitor permit, indicating her multi-day hiking plans starting on September 5th and listing several intended locations. With this information, they presumed she was in the vicinity and prepared for an overnight camp before commencing a daylight search.
Around 9:18 p.m., Mikkelsen managed to send a text message to the dispatch center, providing her location coordinates. She reported being physically well and planned to set up her tent, awaiting rescue in the morning.
On September 9th, at approximately 6:35 a.m., Sheriff Ash and three Search and Rescue members embarked on a hike to locate Mikkelsen. After nearly three hours of searching, they found her in good condition. It was revealed that the poorly marked trail led her down Kettle Creek, which was not an actual trail.
Rescuers praised Mikkelsen for her actions in calling 911 and staying put until they reached her. Due to this being the second rescue mission in the area in less than two months, Sheriff Ash contacted the U.S. Forest Service, requesting updated signage to prevent future incidents.
