A major search is underway in the Cleetwood area for eight-year-old Samuel Boehlke, who was reported missing at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 14th. Over 200 people are committed to the operation, which is being managed by the Pacific West Region’s all-risk incident management team. An initial search was conducted by Crater Lake rangers and members of Jackson County Search and Rescue. Although search dogs alerted on the boy’s scent, searchers were unable to find him. Operations yesterday focused on the north slope of Mount Mazama from Cleetwood Cove. If weather permitted, plans called for a helicopter search inside the caldera. The terrain where the boy was last seen is extremely steep, requiring technical climbing in places. Wet, snowy conditions are expected to continue through Thursday. Support for the search is being provided by personnel from Lassen, Yosemite, Whiskeytown and Lava Beds, horse-mounted patrols from Klamath and Deschutes Counties, the Portland Mountain Rescue Unit, personnel from BLM, and crews from Winema and Rogue River National Forests.
