Search Continues For Overdue Hiker In The Mt. Jefferson Wilderness (Photo) - 07/09/26

The Marion County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team continues its search for 68-year-old John D. Nelson, who was reported overdue after a hiking trip in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.

John and his longtime hiking partner of more than 40 years began their trip from the Whitewater Trailhead on Monday, July 6, 2026, and camped overnight at Russell Lake. At approximately 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, John left Russell Lake alone. When he failed to return as expected, he was reported overdue at approximately 12:00 p.m. that day.

John is described as:

• 68 years old
• 6'1" tall
• Approximately 200 pounds
• Last seen wearing a light blue button-down shirt, blue jacket, blue jeans, and athletic shoes
• Carrying a light blue day pack

John is a retired medical doctor with prior hiking experience, including summiting Mount Jefferson approximately 20 years ago.

Search efforts have continued each day in the rugged wilderness surrounding Russell Lake and nearby trail systems and will continue. Resources deployed include multiple ground search teams and numerous air assets, including a Black Hawk helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard.

Search personnel by day:

• Tuesday: 31 searchers
• Wednesday: 42 searchers
• Thursday: 55 searchers

The Marion County Sheriff's Office is grateful for the assistance of the many agencies supporting this effort, including Marion County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC), METCOM, the U.S. Forest Service, Linn County Sheriff's Office and Search and Rescue, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Air Unit, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Air Unit, Oregon Army National Guard, Salem Police Department Detectives, the FBI, Deschutes County Search and Rescue, Benton County Search and Rescue, Eugene Mountain Rescue, and Idanha-Detroit Fire District.

We continue to ask anyone who was in the Russell Lake, Whitewater Trailhead, or Pacific Crest Trail between Breitenbush Lake and Pamelia Lake over the past several days to contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office if they believe they may have seen John or have any information that could assist search efforts. Even the smallest detail may be helpful.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Marion County Dispatch Center at 503-588-5032.

We also ask the public to avoid entering the active search area so search teams can safely and effectively continue their operations.