Washington State’s Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is proposing fines for unprepared hikers who require rescue after experiencing a 400% increase in rescues calls in the month of May compared to last year.
“The majority of our search and rescue missions are a result of non-resident individuals who act in a negligent or reckless way while recreating in our county. –Sheriff Summer Scheyer
Sheriff Summer Scheyer is calling for a new county ordinance that would allow deputies to issue fines to negligent or reckless hikers who require rescue as a tool to help decrease these avoidable backcountry missions. The details of how the fines would be dolled out are still in the beginning stages but Sheriff Scheyer believes the proposed penalties would make hikers think twice before entering the backcountry unprepared and decrease highly avoidable rescues:
“This ordinance is still in the planning phase, but I believe it would be an added deterrent for those who take exceptional risks and expect the services we are required to provide as a result of their own actions.” -Sheriff Scheyer
Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Press Release:
Despite continued preparedness messaging and warnings of the dangers Skamania County recreational opportunities inherently hold, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office experienced a 400% increase in search and rescue missions in May compared to numbers from 2024.
“The majority of our search and rescue missions are a result of non-resident individuals who act in a negligent or reckless way while recreating in our county. I have made extraordinary efforts to report on the present dangers that exist while recreating in Skamania County but based on this year’s numbers, my messaging clearly has not been received.” –Sheriff Summer Scheyer
Sheriff Scheyer is currently working on a county ordinance where an individual could be cited if they are found to be reckless or negligent in their actions where search and rescue is requested to respond.
“I need to find a creative way to deter the current behavior we are witnessing while attempting to recoup the financial burden placed on our county for an unfunded state mandate. This ordinance is still in the planning phase, but I believe it would be an added deterrent for those who take exceptional risks and expect the services we are required to provide as a result of their own actions.” -Sheriff Scheyer
Summary of Skamania County Sheriff’s Office May 2025 Search & Rescue Missions:
05/07/2025: A 54-year-old Oregon woman reported leg cramps while hiking Dog Mountain, near Home Valley, WA, and was unable to walk down the mountain. A Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission and acquired volunteers from the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team and Skamania County Fire District #1, as well as personnel from Skamania County Emergency Medical Services. After a four-hour mission, the woman was brought down to the trailhead safely by responders.
05/09/2025: A 54-year-old Redmond, Washington woman was glissading down Mount Saint Helens when she struck a rock and received a laceration to her temple. Assistance was requested and a Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission. Volunteers from the Volcano Rescue Team were requested and responded to the mountain. After a six-hour mission, the woman was safely brought to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park and was transported to the hospital for treatment.
05/11/2025: A 49-year-old Portland, Oregon man reported getting his vehicle stuck in the snow on the Forest Service 41 Road and requested assistance. A Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission and acquired volunteer resources from the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team. After a seven-hour mission, the volunteers were able to locate the subject and drove him to safety.
05/11/2025: A 21-year-old Bingen, Washington man was reported to have received a spinal injury while kayaking over Spirit Falls on the Little White Salmon River. Assistance was requested and a Skamania County Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission. Volunteers from the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team, as well as personnel from Skamania County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene to extract the kayaker. After a six-hour mission, the kayaker was extracted and transported, via Life Flight, to the hospital for treatment.
05/14/2025: A request for assistance was received for a 56-year-old McMinnville, Oregon man who fell down a rock cliff alongside the Wind River. A Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission and acquired volunteers from Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Silver Star Search and Rescue, Klickitat County Search and Rescue, along with Skamania County Emergency Medical Services personnel. After an arduous extraction with multiple rope systems, the subject was extracted safely and transported to the hospital for treatment.
05/17/2025: A 30-year-old Portland, Oregon woman experienced a knee injury while hiking Dog Mountain and required assistance, as she was unable to extricate under her own power. A Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission and volunteers from Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Silver Star Search and Rescue, and Clark County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue were acquired to assist. After a four-hour mission, the hiker was safely returned to the trailhead.
05/17/2025: A 74-year-old Pasco, Washington man was reported to have fallen down an embankment on the Wind River and needed assistance. A Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission, acquiring volunteers from Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Silver Star Search and Rescue and Skamania County Fire District 1, as well as personnel from Skamania County Emergency Medical Services. After a seven-hour mission, the subject was extracted safely and transported to the hospital for treatment.
05/20/2025: The Skamania County Communications Center received information regarding an Inreach device alert for a 68-year-old Bend, Oregon woman who was experiencing a high heart rate while bicycling on the Forest Service 25 Road. A Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission and acquired resources from the Volcano Rescue Team, along with personnel from North County Emergency Medical Services. The woman was located by team members and N.C.E.M.S. transported the woman to the hospital for treatment.
05/24/2025: A woman with an ankle injury requested assistance while hiking Dog Mountain. A Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission, acquiring volunteers from Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Silver Star Search and Rescue, and Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, as well as personnel from Skamania County Emergency Medical Services. After a nine-hour mission, the hiker was extricated from the mountain and safely taken to the trailhead for treatment.
05/25/2025: A 35-year-old Renton, Washington man was located at the top of Beacon Rock who collapsed. A Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was assigned to the mission and acquired resources from Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and Silver Star Search and Rescue, along with personnel from Skamania County Emergency Medical Services. The hiker was safely returned to the trailhead and transported to the hospital.
The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office has the utmost gratitude for our incredible volunteers and partnership with Skamania County Emergency Medical Services. Without these resources, a single mission would be impossible.
