Massive search underway for Portland boy missing at Crater Lake

The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon
October 16, 2006

An 8-year-old Portland boy missing in Crater Lake National Park has spent two nights in freezing temperatures as snow continued to hamper search efforts Monday.

About 80 rescuers are working in rugged terrain looking for Samuel Boehlke. The boy, on a camping trip to nearby Diamond Lake with his father, Ken Boehlke, wandered away at a turnout on Rim Drive just east of the Cleetwood Cove trail head, said park Superintendent Chuck Lundy.

Authorities mounted a hasty search about 6 p.m. Saturday that included dog teams as they called in additional resources from as far away as Mount Rainier and Kings Canyon national parks. Local county sheriff's and civilian mountain rescue groups have also joined the search.

Snow has made the search more difficult. A helicopter made about six passes before it was grounded Sunday by the weather. Horse teams have also stopped looking because of slick conditions. About five inches of snow has fallen above 7,000 feet since Sunday afternoon. It's snowing now, but rescuers are hoping for better weather by late today or tomorrow.

The boy, who goes by the name Sammie, was last seen wearing a long-sleeved green and black striped T-shirt, a dark blue winter jacket, tan cargo pants and light red slip-on suede shoes with rubber soles. He weighs about 85 pounds, has brown eyes, short brown hair and is approximately 4-feet, 11-inches tall.

"We are 100 percent committed and devoted to finding him alive," Lundy said. "We'll take this one day at a time until we find him."

For more details, see The Oregonian on Tuesday.

Related News Stories