Early in the week, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office was informed of a hiker in the Rogue Wilderness area who could not continue after hiking in last weeks sweltering triple digit heat.
After becoming exhausted, the 55 year old visually impaired hiker and his guide dog, were left on the Rogue River Trail with food and water by their hiking partner who continued on approximately six miles to Gold Beach to get help.
Two Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies set out on the trail to find the hiker, locating him alive and well in a rugged remote area.
After finding the very experienced hiker, who’s hiking boots had become unusable, it was determined that an extraction was needed, and the U.S. Coast Guard station North Bend was contacted through Oregon Search and Rescue.
The individual was located by Coast Guard air crew, and the hiker and his dog were hoisted out of the canyon and flown to safety, where they both received medical attention.
