The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office suspended its search for a Vancouver elk hunter who went missing in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest earlier this month. Joel Presler, 37, was hunting in the Forlorn Lakes area of the forest and last spoke to his family on Nov. 11.
On Saturday, with the help of the King County Sheriff’s Office, deputies flew over the areas they’ve been searching by foot and by snowmobile since Wednesday. Searchers were unable to detect any tracks or other clues that could’ve been associated with Presler.
Snow near his Ford pickup, which was found Wednesday on Forest Road 6035, was nearly 3 feet deep on Saturday. Areas that people searched had even deeper snow.
The agency’s search ended Saturday evening. However, Presler’s family and friends are planning ground search efforts today.
Anyone who may be in the search area and comes across clues is asked to call 911 or 509-427-9490.
