DAY FOUR 3:30 PM April 9th, 2022
Search in Progress for Missing Snowboarder (UPDATE FINAL)
MOUNT HOOD, ORE. – Late Friday afternoon, members of the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol located evidence that a body was buried in avalanche debris in Clark Creek, located in the Heather Canyon area, much of which is rated black or double black diamond. Due to declining daylight and the technical aspect of a recovery, an operation was scheduled for early Saturday.
Around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, personnel from the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol and Hood River County Sheriff’s Office were able to extricate the body from the creek. The operation, which required a rope team, took about two hours. Personnel were able to identify the body as Ryan Mather, 30 years old, of Aloha, who was reported missing on the evening of April 5. Mather’s family was notified of the recovery late Saturday morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ryan’s family,” said Hood River County Sheriff Matt English. “This has been an incredibly difficult and heart-wrenching five days for them.” English went on to say, “We are extremely thankful to all of the agencies and organizations that helped search for Ryan and ultimately recover him for his family.”
Searchers faced a variety of weather and snow conditions in the highly technical terrain during the five days of active searching. Much of the area was under active avalanche warnings during the operational periods, compounding the dangers that personnel had to contend with.
Assisting the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office during the search operations that began on the evening of April 5, were the Clackamas, Deschutes, Benton and Lane County Sheriffs’ Offices, Hood River Crag Rats, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Eugene Mountain Rescue, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol, Mt. Hood Meadows Public Safety, Oregon Army National Guard, and Oregon Emergency Management.
The Mt. Hood Meadows family extends our condolences to the family and friends of Ryan. We also appreciate all those involved in the search efforts.
DAY TWO 5:00 PM April 7th, 2022
Search in Progress for Missing Snowboarder (AFTERNOON UPDATE)
MOUNT HOOD, ORE. – Rescue crews continued their search efforts at Mt. Hood Meadows today for Ryan Mather, who was reported missing on the evening of April 5. The majority of today’s activity focused on the technical black diamond and double black diamond rated areas in and around Heather Canyon, Jack’s Woods and the Private Reserve.
Searchers started the day with good weather and snow conditions. As searching progressed, the snow conditions deteriorated due to warmer temperatures, creating some challenges in navigating terrain for ground teams. Operations concluded today around 5 p.m., without locating any sign of Mather.
Teams covered hundreds of acres of terrain during the previous three operational periods, checking some areas multiple times. Weather overnight and into Friday is expected to create conditions that are too dangerous for search teams, leading to the suspension of current efforts. Going forward, the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol will continue search efforts to locate Mather.
A spokesperson for the family expressed their thanks for all the efforts that have been made to find Ryan. They said they are grateful for the outpouring of support and well-wishes but asked that their privacy be respected during this very difficult time.
Assisting the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office with search operations on April 7, were the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Hood River Crag Rats, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol, Mt. Hood Meadows Public Safety, and Oregon Emergency Management.
Day Two (8:30 AM April 7, 2023)
MOUNT HOOD, ORE. – Search and Rescue operations resumed this morning for missing snowboarder Ryan Mather, who was reported missing on the evening of April 5. Mather, who was snowboarding at Mt. Hood Meadows that day, had failed to return home. Search and Rescue operations have been ongoing since that evening.
Rescue crews will continue to search the technical black diamond and double black diamond rated areas in and around Heather Canyon and the Private Reserve. Those areas are closed to the public today due to the high avalanche risk from the terrain above. Personnel continue to focus on the areas accessed from the Mt. Hood Meadows Shooting Star chair lift, the last location Mather’s ski pass was scanned late Tuesday morning.
Weather overnight on the mountain was warmer, with the higher elevations at Mt. Hood Meadows seeing temperatures around forty degrees, creating less than ideal snow conditions for ground teams. In addition to the snow conditions, searchers are expected to face avalanche risks in much of the search area today.
Assisting the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office with search operations on April 7, are the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Hood River Crag Rats, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol, Mt. Hood Meadows Public Safety, and Oregon Emergency Management.
From Meadows Team: To facilitate the search efforts Heather Canyon and Private Reserve gates will be closed Wednesday morning. We appreciate you understanding our need to focus on this search.
Day One Update (6:00 PM April 6, 2022)
MOUNT HOOD, ORE. - Searchers worked throughout the day Wednesday, in an effort to locate missing snowboarder Ryan Mathers on Mt. Hood. Mathers, who was reported missing to the Sheriff's Office on April 5, was not located during today's operations. In addition to ground resources, air asset's from the Oregon Army National Guard and drones operated by Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue were utilized to supplement efforts. More than forty ground searchers in fourteen teams covered a significant amount of area throughout the day. Ground crews had to contend with increasing avalanche dangers in much of the search area as temperatures rose in the afternoon.
Additional search efforts are planned for April 7, continuing to search the vast terrain accessed from the Shooting Star chair lift at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, Mr. Mathers last known location. Thursday's operations will utilize skiers in the black diamond and double black diamond areas in and around Heather Canyon and the Private Reserve.
Assisting with search operations on April 6, 2022 were, Clackamas, Deschutes, and Lane County Sheriffs’ Office’s, Hood River Crag Rats, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, Eugene Mountain Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol and avalanche dog, Mt. Hood Meadows Public Safety, Oregon Army National Guard, and Oregon Emergency Management.
From Meadows Team: To facilitate the search efforts Heather Canyon and Private Reserve gates will be closed Thursday. We appreciate you understanding our need to focus on this search.
8:30 AM April 6, 2022
MOUNT HOOD, ORE. - On April 5, 2022 around 9:30 p.m., the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office received information of a missing snowboarder at Mt. Hood Meadows. The missing subject, identified as Ryan Mather, 30 years old, of Aloha, was reported overdue by his girlfriend at that time. Mather had been snowboarding at Mt. Hood Meadows during the day and had failed to return to his residence.
Mather’s vehicle was located at Mt. Hood Meadows prompting personnel from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, Hood River Crag Rats and Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol to initiate an immediate search for Mather. Overnight operations to locate Mather were not successful.
Search operations on April 6, 2022 will focus on areas around the Shooting Star Express chair lift, which was Mather’s last reported location as of late morning on April 5, 2022, and includes access to some back country areas.
Personnel from the Hood River Crag Rats, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Mt. Hood Meadows, Portland Mountain Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Air National Guard are assisting with search operations. Additional information will be reported as it becomes available.
Matt English
Sheriff
Hood River County
From Meadows Team: To facilitate the search efforts Heather Canyon and Private Reserve gates will be closed Wednesday morning. We appreciate you understanding our need to focus on this search.