Deschutes County Search and Rescue Foundation

05/20/2026

Big congrats to the 2026 Academy!

05/15/2026

Proud to stand alongside our neighboring agencies in support of this search effort. Yesterday, 24 Deschutes County Search & Rescue volunteers deployed to assist Linn County in the search for a missing 80-year-old who was successfully found alive. Grateful for the teamwork, dedication, and interagency support that help make missions like these possible.

UPDATE: MISSING HIKER FOUND ALIVE

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports at 11:30 a.m. this morning, searchers found Jerry Highsmith alive near a trail system around Duffy Lake. Mr. Highsmith was experiencing symptoms of exposure and was unable to walk. A helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard is currently on scene as a plan to get Mr. Highsmith to an area hospital is underway.

The efforts to find Mr. Highsmith involved over fifty searchers, including ground searchers, drones, K-9’s and aircraft. The Linn County Search and Rescue Team was assisted by the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association Incident Management Team, Mary’s Peak Search and Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Deschutes County Search and Rescue, Marion County Search and Rescue, Lane County Search and Rescue, Albany Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, United States Forest Service, Willamette Valley First Responder Chaplains, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, and the Oregon Army National Guard.

Sheriff Duncan would like to thank all the agencies and organizations that helped in the search for Mr. Highsmith. Finding Mr. Highsmith alive would not be possible without their assistance.

05/11/2026

Behind every mission, training, and late-night callout is a dedicated volunteer giving their time, energy, and heart to Search & Rescue.

This year, we’re excited to launch our “Volunteer Spotlight” series — a monthly feature highlighting the incredible individuals who make our unit possible. From seasoned members to newer volunteers, each spotlight will share the stories, experiences, and motivations that drive our team both in the field and behind the scenes.

Search & Rescue is built on commitment, teamwork, and service to our community, and this initiative is one small way to recognize the people who embody those values every day.

We hope these spotlights help our community get to know the faces behind the uniforms and celebrate the volunteers who continuously answer the call to help others.

Without further ado, we’d like to introduce you to Ed!

Ed Weiser never set out to fill his retirement with quiet days. When a ski buddy mentioned Deschutes County Search and Rescue (DCSAR) he found a way to stay challenged mentally, emotionally and physically while giving back to our community.

His connection to the outdoors runs deep. Ed entered the outdoor industry at 18 before building a career in retail operations, information technology leadership and independent consulting. He retired in 2015, but not from actively serving our community.

A longtime outdoor enthusiast, Ed spent years leading backpacking and canoe trips before becoming a search and rescue volunteer and member of the DCSAR Foundation board, the organization’s funding arm.

Today, he calls himself a “professional volunteer,” balancing rescue work with small business mentoring, interpretive ranger talks, hiking groups and time with his grandkids.

What keeps him coming back? “Teammates,” he says.

05/05/2026

04/09/2026

A warm welcome to our 2026 Academy!

03/31/2026

Black Hawk Helicopter and 22 Search & Rescue Volunteers Respond to Injured Snowboarder Near Tam McArthur Rim

Bend, Ore. — A coordinated rescue involving an Oregon Army National Guard HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and 22 Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers brought an injured snowboarder to safety on Monday, March 30. The call for help came in at 2:40 p.m., after a 44-year-old woman from Bend was injured in the Tam McArthur Rim area at the base of Broken Top Mountain. She was found on steep, snow-covered terrain in the upper third of the slope at approximately 7,350 feet in elevation.

The nature of the injuries and the terrain required an immediate and technical response. A three-person team of Advanced Life Support SAR and Mountain Rescue Unit (MRU) members was taken to the area by Air Link, but weather conditions prevented them from reaching the scene. They were dropped off as close as possible at the Lower Three Creeks Snow Park, where a Good Samaritan got them closer. The team then skied approximately two miles uphill to reach the snowboarder.

Additional SAR resources, snowmobile operators, skiers, and medical team members also responded. A break in the weather allowed the Oregon Army National Guard HH-60 Black Hawk, with a paramedic on board, to reach the location at 8:20 p.m. The woman was stabilized and flown to St. Charles-Bend for further care.

This rescue was possible thanks to the work of 22 highly trained SAR volunteers and a DCSO deputy. They were assisted by the Oregon State SAR Coordinator from the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, AirLink Critical Care Transport, the Oregon Army National Guard based at McNary Field in Salem, Oregon, and Three Sisters Backcountry Yurts.

03/30/2026

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Volunteers Respond to Weekend Mountain Bike Crash West of Bend

03/24/2026

Two Climbers Rescued Overnight After Becoming Stuck on a Ledge at Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park, Ore. -- Two climbers stranded on a narrow ledge nearly 400 feet above the ground were safely rescued at Smith Rock State Park after a complex nighttime operation conducted by Deschutes County Search & Rescue (SAR) volunteers.

At 8:00 p.m., Monday, March 23, SAR was activated after two male climbers in their late 20s became stuck during a descent on the west side of Smith Rock State Park in an area known to climbers as “Wherever I May Roam.” The pair, visiting from Eugene and Salem, began their climb around 12:00 p.m., pausing at times to let other climbers pass by.

During their rappel, the climbers’ ropes became stuck in rocks, preventing them from continuing downward. Due to the highly technical nature of the situation, SAR deployed several of its most experienced volunteer climbers. The rescue required navigating steep, exposed terrain entirely at night, with cold conditions adding to the complexity.

Rescuers reached the stranded climbers, secured them on ropes, and lowered them safely to the base of the route. Neither climber was injured, though both were cold and not adequately prepared for nighttime temperatures. They were brought to the ground at 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24.

This incident highlights the skill and dedication of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue volunteers, whose advanced climbing abilities and willingness to operate in hazardous conditions made this safe outcome possible.

03/09/2026

Over the weekend our team conducted a mock mission at Edison Sno-Park. The scenario involved six friends who set out on a day hike to a nearby shelter and were later reported overdue. Multiple teams were deployed into the field, including K9, tracking, ground search, ATV, and Argo (tracked vehicle). We appreciate AirLink Critical Care Transport continued collaboration and the ongoing training opportunities they provide.

Trainings like this help us maintain and sharpen the skills needed for a successful mission. We stay ready so others may live!