Body Of Missing Snowboarder Recovered From Mount Hood

MOUNT HOOD, Ore. — Crews late on Friday afternoon located the body of a man from Aloha who did not return home from a snowboarding trip.

The girlfriend of 30-year-old Ryan Mather reported him missing on the night of April 5th.  His vehicle was found that night at Mount Hood Meadows.  His ski pass was last scanned at the Shooting Star Express chair lift late Tuesday morning.

After facing avalanche conditions and a weather system moving in overnight Thursday that would make conditions even more dangerous for rescuers, the search was officially suspended late Thursday afternoon.

Members of the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol located Mather’s body in avalanche debris in the Heather Canyon area, much of which is rated black or double black diamond.

With nightfall setting it, recovery operations were delayed until Saturday.  Personnel from the ski patrol and the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office extricated Mather’s body from a creek.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ryan’s family,” said Hood River County Sheriff Matt English.  “This has been an incredibly difficult and heart-wrenching five days for them.  We are extremely thankful to all of the agencies and organizations that helped search for Ryan and ultimately recover him for his family.”

Ryan’s family thanked everyone for their extensive efforts.