Missing mushroom picker found safe
RANDLE, Wash. -- A 79-year-old man who became lost while mushroom picking with his family has been found safe.
Search crews found Dapeng Yang not too far from the base camp searchers had set up near Randle. He is in good condition and was taken to Morton General Hospital for treatment of dehydration, said Lewis County sheriff Chief Deputy Stacy Brown.
Yang was separated from his family Sunday morning as they picked mushrooms along Forest Service Road 26. Family members waited for him at their car and searched for several hours before calling police Sunday afternoon.
Brown said the man had a backpack with water and was an experienced hiker, but was not equipped to spend the night outdoors, where overnight temperatures dropped to about 32 degrees.
Luckily, Yang was spotted Tuesday afternoon by search team walking near that forest road, just a mile from the base camp. Brown says they don't know why he did not hear or respond to search and rescue units blowing whistles and yelling his name. Yang was exhausted but did not have any signs of obvious injuries.
"This is an incredible ending," Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield said in a statement to the media. "Neither this man's family nor our Search and Rescue team gave up hope. Our teams worked tirelessly for the last 48 hours in hopes of finding this man alive. We are very pleased that the mission turned out in such a positive manner.”
Search crews found Dapeng Yang not too far from the base camp searchers had set up near Randle. He is in good condition and was taken to Morton General Hospital for treatment of dehydration, said Lewis County sheriff Chief Deputy Stacy Brown.
Yang was separated from his family Sunday morning as they picked mushrooms along Forest Service Road 26. Family members waited for him at their car and searched for several hours before calling police Sunday afternoon.
Brown said the man had a backpack with water and was an experienced hiker, but was not equipped to spend the night outdoors, where overnight temperatures dropped to about 32 degrees.
Luckily, Yang was spotted Tuesday afternoon by search team walking near that forest road, just a mile from the base camp. Brown says they don't know why he did not hear or respond to search and rescue units blowing whistles and yelling his name. Yang was exhausted but did not have any signs of obvious injuries.
"This is an incredible ending," Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield said in a statement to the media. "Neither this man's family nor our Search and Rescue team gave up hope. Our teams worked tirelessly for the last 48 hours in hopes of finding this man alive. We are very pleased that the mission turned out in such a positive manner.”
Glad to hear he was found safe and sound, now if the trails and trees stop moving everything will be great...
Good. I'm glad he and his family are very happy.
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It was a great trip!
First I am so glad he was found and is all right.  With that out of the way, does it strike anyone else that mushroom picking is dangerous?  It seems a lot of them get lost. Perhaps one should wait to get home before sampling the crop. ;~}} Â
Did he find anything? It's been extremely dry....
yeah, i've been worrying about the chanterelles this year.
@SwampThing The worms should be fewer until it rains.Â
Nice to hear a good outcome. Too often it's not.
close one for that guy...
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the only time i've ever been lost in the woods was mushroom hunting. went off trail (not very far either) and after a few momoents of head-down scanning for 'shrooms i realized i was totally turned around and had ni idea what was the proper direction back to trail. fortunately, i was on whidbey island and figured worst case is i walk i straight line and run into a road or property. anyway, found the trail and learned a good leason...
 @SwampThing I have done my share of mushroom hunting when I was younger. Never had to worry about getting lost but you did have to keep your eyes peeled for the occasional angry farmer with a shotgun full of buckshot. Seems they don't appreciate you trespassing in their cow pastures; who knew?
Cool!