Search and recovery efforts for Susan Lane-Fournier are still ongoing, as the hiker was last seen several days ago. She was reported missing on Friday, and the following day, on November 23, her pickup was spotted on Salmon River Road near the Green Canyon Way Trail just south of Welches.
The 61-year-old went hiking in the Mt. Hood National Forest, and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said, according to NewsNation:
"She is believed to be hiking with her two large Malinois-mix dogs in the Green Canyon Way Trail area south of Welches. Deputies unsuccessfully attempted to locate Ms. Lane-Fournier at her residence.”
Multiple search and rescue teams were dispatched to locate Susan Lane-Fournier to no avail; friends say they're "all concerned"
Cari Gesch, a friend of the Brightwood resident, was the one to discover her truck, He told KGW8,
"I saw the truck on the side of the road and it just hit me as odd because that's not really a place someone who's hiking that trail there would park."
Gesch said that Lane-Fournier is well-accustomed to the hiking area and is an experienced hiker herself. CCSO Sergeant Ross Clemson told the outlet:
"She's got two large Malinois-mix-type dogs. They're pretty noticeable if you see them. So we think she's up here hiking with those dogs, and then based on finding her pickup truck near a trailhead, that's another clue as to why we think she's up here."
Per the outlet, eight search and rescue teams were dispatched in an attempt to locate Lane-Fournier, comprising 37 volunteers, K9 teams, and teams from Clackamas Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, and Mountain Wave Emergency Communications, among others.
Gesch continued:
"We're just all concerned. It's not like her to not show up to work, not call and no one's seen or heard anything. ... She's a little bit eccentric but everyone up here on this mountain is a little bit eccentric. But she's just the most kindest, most loving person. I mean, you will not hear anyone say a bad word about Phoenix."
They scoured the region over the weekend, to no avail. Operations were resumed on Monday, but once again, with no luck. As reported by The Chronicle, the U.S. Forest Service has described the trail Lane-Fournier was on as “primitive.” As the search continues, authorities are in frequent communication with the family of Susan Lane-Fournier, according to Central Oregon Daily.
Susan Lane-Fournier, nicknamed "Phoenix," is 5 feet 2 inches tall, 150 lbs, and has reddish-brown locks. While she may have been familiar with the hiking trail, it remains unclear if she was equipped to deal with an overnight trek. Per KIRO 7, the night saw light rainfall and temperatures dipping into the 30s.
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Authorities are requesting that anyone who has seen Susan Lane-Fournier or her two dogs report it to the non-emergency dispatch line at (503) 655-8211 of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
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