Agencies Recover Climber’s Body

Three agencies coordinated efforts Friday to recover the body of Adam Ochshorn, a Portland, Oregon man missing since November 2015.  Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett said the body was recovered from the west buttress of Colchuck Peak through a collaborative effort of Chelan County Mountain Rescue, Chelan County Sheriff's Department and Chelan County Fire District #1.

Ochshorn's remains were discovered earlier this month in steep terrain at the 7,100 foot elevation of Colchuck Peak  It was determined the larger Chelan County Fire District's UH-1 Huey helicopter was a safer and faster option than the smaller Sheriff's Department Jet Ranger aircraft.  Fire Chief Mike Burnett authorized the use of the aircraft for the recovery mission and Sheriff Burnett says his department will share the costs.  Burnett says budget cuts across the state have limited access to hoist equipped aircraft in recent years and partnership with the Chelan County Fire District on some rescue missions may continue in the future.

33-year-old Adam Ochshorn went missing since Nov. 29, 2015 when he failed to return from a solo climb on Colchuck Peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.  Sgt. Kent Sisson with Chelan County Sheriff's Office says a helicopter flying on an unrelated mission Sept. 6 spotted a faded orange object in the rocks at about 6,500 foot. A rescue team later hiked and climbed into the area and confirmed it was Ochshorn’s climbing pack but did not find him.  The discovered his body a few days later above where his pack was found.