BLUE RIVER, Ore. (AP) - A Lane County search team will make another, and probably final, attempt to find Damaing Xu, a University of Oregon math professor missing in the Three Sisters wilderness since failing to return from a hike on Nov. 4.

County search and rescue coordinator John Miller said about three dozen searchers from Lane and other counties will return to the 9-mile-long French Pete Creek drainage area beginning Friday. He said late summer makes for optimal search conditions in the 50 square-mile area.

The search was suspended Nov. 18 because of harsh weather.

The 63-year-old Xu, an experienced hiker, planned to return from his solo hike and be back in Eugene the next day in time for his classes. He began teaching at Oregon in 1990.
     
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