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The Nugget Newspaper
Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

Lost hiker found safe

A 33-year-old Corvallis man was found little worse for wear despite wandering for two days and a night in the Three Creek area with no food, water or survival gear.

Randy Nibler was located by Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and other personnel at about 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 15, at Tumalo Falls.

Nibler had gone out the day before to hike in the Three Creek/Broken Top area, according to sheriff's office reports.

When he did not return, the camp host at Three Creek Lake Campground reported his absence.

Ground teams searched the Tam McArthur Rim Trail into the night and found Nibler's abandoned pack.

According to sheriff's office reports, canine teams, including one from Lane County, Amateur Radio Emergency Services, an Oregon National Guard helicopter and more Deschutes County SAR teams mobilized the next morning and launched an extensive search of the Three Creek Lake area.

Ground teams found tracks in the Tumalo Creek drainage, heading toward Tumalo Falls. According to sheriff's office reports, a Forest Service employee spotted Nibler near the falls at about 1:30 p.m.

The Oregon National Guard helicopter sighted Nibler and guided ground teams to his location.

The sheriff's office reported that Nibler "was sunburnt, dehydrated and fatigued" when search teams located him (but) he was not hospitalized.

Searchers stressed that it is important that hikers be adequately equipped and prepared for emergencies even for day trips in the back country.

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