Mushroom picker missing in Wash.
STEVENSON, Wash. (AP) — The Skamania County sheriff's office is looking for a mushroom hunter who has been missing since Saturday afternoon in an area of dense brush in the southwest Washington county.
The sheriff's office says others who were with 60-year-old Gail Wietrick of Trout Lake searched for her Saturday night and Sunday before notifying authorities at 3 p.m. Sunday.
About 15 searchers are in the area Monday, with an additional 35 requested through the Washington State Department of Emergency Management.
Could they be a little more specific of the last known location? Skamania County's pretty big. Was it near Trout Lake, or farther west? We saw a lot of pickers out last weekend along Curly Creek Road.
what kind of mushrooms are these people after? They sure seem to get lost a lot, you would think a sober person would learn from others mistakes and maybe mark a trail or something.
@franksbeans  Probably Chanterelles. They are the ones most prevalent in the deep forests this time of year.
is it strange that her group didn't report her missing until an hour before dark on the second day? She's a 60 year old woman. I think it's more customary to let authorities know the first night or asap. That area is not that remote.
where are the people who knee jerk react when climbers are in trouble? was this person wearing an MLU? the Mushroom Locator Unit? There should be 100 new laws that require all mushroom pickers to buy a permit and register and have insurance and if they don't they should have to pay for all rescue costs, and we should get a huge brigade of new officers to enforce the laws. Renting a Mushroom Locator Unit only costs $5, these mushroom hunters are reckless--why would anyone step foot in the woods in December--doesn't everyone know that is a dangerous time?? Just because they get a rush from mushroom hunting I shouldn't have to pay for it. ^ all sarcastic. All making fun of the idiots who cry about tax payer dollars when a climber is needing rescue. best wishes to find this missing person, hopefully they are found soon cold and hungry but otherwise ok.
 @water You'd make your fortune with the MLU.  I was driving with a hiking buddy at the end of the day with twilight coming on, going over a pass in the Ellensburg WA. There was snow on this dirt/gravel road, drifts in places. We were prepared with the right 4x4. We came upon a little Prius that was high centered in a huge snow drift. Engine still warm. No sign of people anywhere. We called and called and then we started searching. Out from the trees comes this tiny little woman HUNTING MUSHROOMS solo.  She was completely cavalier about being stuck in a remote snowy mountain area, and would have frozen to death over night. We towed her out of the drift, followed her down the mountain to make sure she got to civilization. Cellphone reception doesn't work in mountainous areas, most of the time. She thanked us with a bag of bug infested mushrooms that we tossed out on the side of the road.Â
@water Just a wee bit of difference when on a mountain with extreme danger and risk of death to the resuers, and which could involve the use of multi million dollar aircraft, and some idiot lost in a cow pasture that needs only the use of volunteers!
 @flyroy  @water you are so woefully uninformed that you should remove yourself from the gene pool!!! So the last person who was needing rescue on Mt. Hood just last week was aided entirely by VOLUNTEERS other than the sheriff who had a few people to help coordinate at timberline lodge.
Â
And really you think these people are lost in a cow pasture? How are they lost in an open field? they are lost in deep woods over a broad search area and yes helicopters are brought in to do FLIR night searches. And for the record the use of aircraft for ALL S&R is most often from the military and they use the hours spent as training.
 @flyroy  @water thanks for supporting my point that the aircraft are already paid for and operated by the military. Since you fly on rescue you are aware that military support of volunteer S&R is seen as a valuable training tool.
@water I fly rescue moron! Try your worthless rant somewhere else, low level flir is 10% of the cost of a pavehawk helicopter which is one of the only ones that can fly at extreme altitudes!
You can always come to my lawn. Got really funny looking brownish fungi living all over the place. Not even the resident attack gopher, Herman, nor the browsing deer are interested. Shucks! Â
Probably ate the wrong kind and is hold up under a big log somewhere having psychodelic dreams (haha).
 @Bdou Most likely they were looking for chantrelles...this year has been bad pickings because it's been warm and really wet. Which means they probably had to go deeper into the woods to find a good patch. Any newbies thinking about hunting for mushrooms should always go with someone who's experienced, and always stay within shouting distance...or better yet, bring a whistle. It helps if you have a compass and know how to use it. A couple of times I've had to rely on it and it's saved me from spending a night in the forest.
Â
Hope she's safe and they find her quickly.Â
Â
Â