Search suspended for Portland camper missing since mid-July

Clackamas County deputies looked for eight days in Mount Hood National Forest

By Evan Jensen

The Estacada News, Aug 9, 2010, Updated Aug 9, 2010

Robert Bissell, a 57-year-old Portland resident, was reported missing in the Mount Hood National Forest on July 24. Search and rescue teams looked the missing camper east of Estacada.

Courtesy of CCSO

Last week the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office scaled back the search for a missing hiker in the Mount Hood National Forest east of Estacada after an extensive eight-day search for Portland resident Robert Bissell, 57, who went camping July 12 and never returned.

Four weeks ago, Bissell made the trip from Portland to Estacada, along Highway 224, to the Roaring River wilderness area and camp. According to the U.S. Forest Service permit Bissell completed, he planned to hike into the Rock Lakes Basin to the Roaring River wilderness camp and spend a few days hiking and fishing in the area. Bissell planned to return home July 16, but when he did, Bissell’s brother, Michael Bissell, went to look for him on July 19.

“Michael Bissell located Robert's vehicle parked at the trailhead and then hiked into the Rock Lakes Basin where he found Robert's unoccupied campsite set up at Middle Rock Lake, off Trail No. 512. Michael Bissell left a note for Robert explaining he was concerned and asked his brother to contact him. Michael Bissell assumed his brother was on a day-hike from his campsite at the time,” said sheriff's office Search and Rescue Sgt. James Rhodes.

Five days later, Michael Bissell still had not heard from his brother, so he returned to the area, found his brother’s car and campsite undisturbed, and contacted the the sheriff's office for help. Michael Bissell declined to speak with the Estacada News about his brother’s disappearance. However, after an extensive eight-day search, Rhodes said he believes whatever happened to Robert Bissell, most likely occurred shortly after he arrived on July 12.

The field search for Robert Bissell began July 25 and included the use of hundreds of volunteers, two fixed-wing airplanes, a helicopter, search dogs, mounted horse patrol, man-trackers, ATVs, and 4x4 vehicles. The sheriff's office also mobilized a complex field-radio communications network, a staff of emergency medical services personnel and a mobile kitchen. As many as 70 searchers were in the field at a time for as long as 16 hours a day.

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