STEVENSON, WA – Following a dramatic surge in search and rescue operations, Skamania County Sheriff Summer Scheyer is proposing a new county ordinance aimed at holding individuals accountable for reckless or negligent behavior that results in search and rescue deployment.

The Sheriff’s Office reported a 400% increase in rescue missions in May 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. In June, missions rose 550% year over year, putting the county on pace to surpass the total number of rescues for all of 2024 before summer ends.

“The majority of our search and rescue missions are a result of non-resident individuals who act in a negligent or reckless way while recreating in our county,” said Sheriff Scheyer. “I have made extraordinary efforts to report on the present dangers that exist while recreating in Skamania County but based on this year’s numbers, my messaging clearly has not been received.”

To address the growing burden on local resources, Sheriff Scheyer is working to introduce a county ordinance that would allow citations to be issued when individuals engage in reckless or negligent activity that prompts a search and rescue response.

“This ordinance is still in the planning phase,” Scheyer said, “but I believe it would be an added deterrent for those who take exceptional risks and expect the services we are required to provide as a result of their own actions.” She added that the ordinance could also help the county offset the costs of what she described as an “unfunded state mandate.”

Rescue Missions Continue to Climb

The Sheriff’s Office handled 42 rescue missions in the first six months of 2025, approaching last year’s total of 54—and entering what is typically the busiest season. The incidents varied widely but frequently involved hikers or climbers who became injured, lost, or overwhelmed while exploring remote areas.

In May alone, rescue teams responded to hikers with leg cramps and knee injuries on Dog Mountain, a kayaker with a spinal injury at Spirit Falls, a climber with a head wound on Mount St. Helens, and multiple individuals stranded in snow or needing assistance due to falls and medical conditions.

June saw even more missions, including:

• A 17-year-old girl who fell 30 feet at Falls Creek Falls and later died from her injuries.

• Several incidents involving lost or injured climbers on Mount St. Helens.

• Multiple rescues of hikers who suffered from panic attacks, dislocated joints, or medical issues while on the trail.

• A missing 16-year-old on Silver Star Mountain, located and returned safely.

The Sheriff emphasized the vital role volunteers and partner agencies play in each mission, thanking local search and rescue teams, emergency medical services, and neighboring counties for their ongoing support.

Sheriff Scheyer reiterated her call for personal responsibility among outdoor recreationists. “This serves as another reminder to hike within your capabilities, pack plenty of water, tell others where you’re traveling, and always have the 10 essentials,” she said.