CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. (AP) — A search for a Portland man who planned to climb Colchuck Peak near Leavenworth but failed to return on time was suspended Tuesday evening.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said the search was halted due to weather conditions and to ensure the safety of search and rescue personnel.
Officials say Adam Ochshorn started hiking to Colchuck Lake on Friday. He planned to camp overnight and then climb a steep, narrow gully to reach Colchuck Peak on Saturday.
He was expected out late Saturday or early Sunday, but he didn’t return. His vehicle was found near the campground.
He is described as an experienced and technical climber who had hiked in the Colchuck area this summer.
Searchers hiked in on Sunday and Mountain Rescue members joined in on Monday, along with a helicopter. They found his tent but not the climber.
Search crews were not able to find him on Tuesday. Bad weather moving in forced the search to be temporarily halted, and a decision on resuming the search on Wednesday will be made later, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said.
John Jaqua, the owner of CHORDination, told KOIN 6 News Ochshorn has been a music teacher with them for 7 years, teaching piano and drums.
“He’s a very talented musician both on piano and drums,” Jacqua said. “His students and parents love him.” He said Ochshorn is “fun and courteous and respectful to people, and very hard working.”
The CHORDination website states Ochshorn “toured heavily on the East Coast in an original jazz/fusion group, recording two albums and playing 400+ shows in several years, before moving to Portland to continue his musical efforts.”
Ochshorn loves to climb and loves the outdoors, Jacqua said. “He just loves doing it, he loves being outside, he liked the technical parts of it. He likes teaching other people about it.”
Recently Ochshorn was in Canada and “he’s done a lot of ice climbing back East as well.”
Jacqua said Ochshorn is very strong and he has the support of the community during this time.
“I think the people in the community are just waiting and hoping that we do find him.”
While the helicopter searches, the waiting is the hardest part.
“We love him. We look forward to seeing him soon, you know?”
KOIN 6 News reporter Amy Frazier contributed to this report.
Filed under: Oregon, Top Video, Washington County
