The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday recovered who they believe is Devon Dobek, a 1993 Philomath High School graduate who disappeared during a hunting trip in the Mount Hood National Forest more than two weeks ago.
Community members, family and friends searching the area spotted what appeared to be a body at the base of a cliff near the Fish Creek Trailhead shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday and notified the Sheriff’s Office.
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue coordinators and volunteers responded at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday and used a specially trained rope team in an attempt to reach and recover the body. The location required a river crossing and traversing several hundred feet of nearly vertical cliff face. With the loss of daylight, crews had to suspend operations until morning.
On Sunday, Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue teams began a second attempt by rappelling from the top of the ridge. Teams deployed from two different angles — one from the Fish Creek Campground and the other from a location off National Forest-45 Road.
A deputy, three U.S. Forest Service officers and several volunteers worked for 10 hours clearing downed trees along the evacuation route to get vehicles into a washed-out area of road.
At about 1 p.m., rope teams and a deputy reached the body. At approximately 3:35 p.m., teams carried the remains over rough terrain before transferring to a wheeled litter for the remainder of the evacuation. It took several hours to reach the roadway.
Official identification will come from the Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Dobek, 51, a Hubbard resident, was last heard from on Oct. 31 when he messaged a friend that he was returning home early from his hunting trip after bagging a deer. He never made it back. Deputies discovered his truck near the Fish Creek Trailhead, off Southeast Highway 224 and 54 Road, approximately 20 miles southeast of Estacada. There was no deer and no sign of Dobek.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office launched a massive search operation that ran from Oct. 31 through Nov. 7, deploying extensive resources including technical ground teams, helicopters, airplanes, drones equipped with thermal cameras, K-9 units, ATVs and cellphone tracking specialists. Multiple search-and-rescue teams from throughout the region participated in the effort, which logged more than 4,000 personnel hours.
The Sheriff’s Office suspended its active search on Nov. 8 after seven days of intensive effort in the challenging terrain.
The Sheriff’s Office thanked Clackamas County Search and Rescue volunteers, Portland Mountain Rescue, Hood River Crag Rats, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Mountain Wave Emergency Communications and the U.S. Forest Service for their assistance in Sunday’s recovery mission.
Rest in peace Devon. I feel better now that your family and friends can lay you to rest. I have the utmost respect for everyone that banded together to look for and bring Devon home. You truly do God’s work. Your dedication and love is inspiring. I wish God’s peace upon everyone.
As an experienced deer hunter myself, I know the difficulties of hunting in rough terrain in BC and have had many close calls myself while hiking.
Glad they found you Devon and may you rest in peace!!!