Missing Peshastin Fisherman Found after 5 Day Ordeal

A 78 year old Peshastin man who had not returned from a fishing trip last Sunday up the Icicle Creek area was located Friday on the French Creek trail in the Icicle Drainage. Chelan County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Reinfeld a group of hikers found the man on the trail and flagged down a search team in the area. The location was approximately 2-1/4 miles in from the trailhead. Reinfeld said the man was described as dehydrated but still able to walk however search and rescues personnel determined he would need to be littered out the remainder of the way.

The man was reported missing on Monday, August 16th after he didn’t return home from fishing on Sunday the 15th.
Reinfeld said search and rescue interviewed the man and determined he hiked up the French Ridge trail off of French Creek last Sunday morning amd lost the trail. He eventually located the creek and was able to catch some fish and was able to start a fire. "Things surprise you in search and rescue sometimes how someone can survive that long without supplies and come out of it okay" Reinfeld said

A nearly weeklong search effort involved numerous agencies; Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Deputies, CCSO Swiftwater Rescue Deputies and Volunteers, Chelan County Volunteer SAR, Chelan County Mountain Rescue, plus representatives of neighboring and outside agencies Kittitas County, Okanogan County, Spokane County, King County, Snohomish County. Reinfeld said there was spontaneous participation in the search effort from volunteers and family members. The hikers who located the man also volunteered to help bring the rescued fisherman out to safety.