October 26, 2022 3:40 a.m. 

A Pacific Crest Trail hiker was rescued in the Diamond Peak Wilderness on the Deschutes National Forest by Douglas County Search and Rescue.

Lieutenant Brad O’Dell of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Friday night at approximately 10:00 p.m., Klamath County Search and Rescue requested Douglas County SAR take a mission in the Diamond Peak Wilderness in Klamath County, due to that county not having available resources. O’Dell said a 57-year old Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker, Hassan Falsafi of Weaverville, California had called 911 and reported he had tried to beat the incoming weather front but was unsuccessful and needed emergent assistance. Falsafi stated that all of his clothing, sleeping bag and other camping supplies had become soaked with rainwater and he was experiencing hypothermia symptoms.

 

Douglas County SAR deployed and was able to access the wilderness area from the PCT trailhead at Summit Lake and hike north on the trail to Falsafi’s location. While searchers were enroute the weather continued to worsen from rain to sleet, hail and eventually snow. O’Dell said temperatures dropped from 36 degrees to 30 degrees and for a period of time, snow was falling so fast that 3/4 of one inch accumulated on the ground in 20 minutes.

O’Dell said searchers located Falsafi at approximately 4:15 a.m. Saturday and treated him for moderate hypothermia by providing him with dry clothing and helping to warm him. After Falsafi had improved, searchers escorted him to a waiting warm vehicle at the trailhead. They arrived there at approximately 7:00 a.m. It was determined that an ambulance was not necessary.

Falsafi was transported to Roseburg where he arranged for family to pick him up.

DCSO released information on the rescue on Tuesday.