By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Packwood Search and Rescue along with Cascade Dogs set out yesterday morning to locate a 50-year-old man who got separated from his friends the night before, out in the woods about 10 miles south of Randle.
The Olympia man had been mushroom picking in the area of Strawberry Mountain, and was supposed to meet his ride at dark, but didn’t, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities got a 911 called about 1:45 a.m. yesterday after the man’s friends and family failed to locate him, according to the sheriff’s office.
Search and rescue teams shortly after 7 a.m. began checking Forest Service Road 26, near milepost 5.5, Chief Dusty Breen said. The mushroom picker was found shortly before 9:15 a.m., Breen said, in the area of milepost 7.
He was cold and wet but otherwise in good condition, Breen said.
The man said he spent too much time picking and got caught in the dark. He built a campfire and then was located after hearing law enforcement using their sirens trying to get his attention, according to the sheriff’s office.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter