Document text
http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 18, 2006 Boy missing for fourth night in Crater Lake Park CRATER LAKE — Rescue workers searched under rocks, beneath logs and on precipitious slopes at Crater Lake National Park on Wednesday in search of an 8-year-old boy who has spent four nights in snowy and cold conditions after wandering from his father. Park officials said they had not given up hope that Sammy Boehlke may still be found alive, and were expanding the area of their search. "We're continuing to search for a live 8-year-old boy, focusing on concealed areas, areas under cover," said Park Service spokesman Rudy Evenson. The child and his father, Ken Boehlke, were out for a day of hiking on Saturday and were attempting to climb a rock embankment, when the youth went ahead of his father and into the woods, officials said. The youth has camping experience but no formal training in wilderness survival. He was described as wearing a winter coat, long-sleeved T-shirt, cargo pants and light shoes. He disappeared in wintry conditions. The park, at 7,000 feet, averages more than 500 inches of snow a year. Snow fell Sunday and Monday, but the weather improved Tuesday, allowing a helicopter to examine the lake's edge and rappelling crews from Yosemite National Park to work their way down the walls of the caldera that holds the lake. Temperatures in the area Tuesday night were in the mid to high 20s, Evenson said. About 145 rescue workers continued the search on Wednesday, focusing on wooded areas and looking "under rocks, logs and in small hiding places," Evenson said. "We are holding out hope he might be in a place like that, where he might have sheltered for a few days." Technical crews also continue to search the steep slopes leading from the rim of the caldera down to the water — a drop of 700 to 1,000 feet, Evenson said. Evenson said it's unlikely the boy would have fallen into the lake because obstacles on the slope would have prevented that. The boy's parents were heading to the searchers' base camp on Wednesday. Evenson said they are holding up "as well as can be expected." Officials say Sammy Boehlke showed signs of low-level autism but hadn't been diagnosed with the disorder. "We're taking that into account," said David Brennan, chief ranger at the park. The search force has at times swelled to more than 200 people combing an area of about six square miles, or 4,000 acres. The terrain around the lake varies from nearly flat to gently rolling, with house-size blocks of lava and small precipices scattered about. The woods are lodgepole pines and other conifers. The caldera was formed by the explosion of a Cascades Range volcano about 7,000 years ago. Brennan said officials were treating the situation as that of a missing person. "There's absolutely nothing to indicate foul play or criminal activity," he said. Current Comments: Sooner or later you've got to put allow for a voluntary kind of GPS system for campers and hikers to wear them while they in the park. Then they can take them off once they leave the park. For those that don't want to wear them that's fine too. My prayers are for the lost boy Sammy Boehlke as well and father and family as well. Frank Gesswein Frank Gesswein ( [email protected] ) - Olympia, Washington - October 18th, 3:00 PM I am very sorry to read this article it is always such a painful situation to have a child lost in the wilderness. My personal advice would be to find a good search and rescue K-9 team with a bloodhound to be included in the search.. I spent many years volunteering as a SAR K-9 handler and you will never find more determination to finding a child than from a bloodhound, they are wonderful very skillful animals and will never lose hope. I will pray that you find him soon :) Anastasia Higgins - Ashland oregon - October 19th, 12:51 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.