Man Raised in Mendocino County Goes Missing on Oregon Mountainside

Mount Jefferson's south face.

Mount Jefferson’s south face. [Photo by Jsayre64 via Wikicommons]

Steven Van Pelt, a Mendocino County man who was living in Salem, Oregon, went missing on Friday, July 23, 2021, while descending Mount Jefferson, the state’s second-tallest peak. Rescuers have been searching for Van Pelt since Friday to no avail.

A press release from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office indicates Van Pelt was reported missing after he fell among “extreme mountainous terrain.” A witness to Van Pelt’s fall told authorities they lost “sight of Van Pelt after he fell several hundred feet.”

The search for Van Pelt has rallied prayers and concerns for his fate on local social media.

A Ukiah Daily Journal article from August 11, 1989, indicates Van Pelt moved to Mendocino County when he was 2-years-old when his family relocated to the county for work.

There are multiple entries between 2001-2002 in the Ukiah Daily Journal recognizing Van Pelt for earning grades good enough to make Honor Roll while attending Eagle Peak Middle School.

A LinkedIn profile for Van Pelt indicates he works at Salem’s Morning Star Community Church as a Production Director.

Oregon’s Mount Jefferson stands at 10,495 feet and is part of the Cascade Range. According to SummitPost.com, the mountain’s summit pinnacle requires “Class 4 scrambling on very steep, usually ice-encrusted rock, it is considered by some to be the most difficult of the higher volcanos.”

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office press release states rescue efforts have been complicated by the nature of the terrain which is described as “extremely dangerous and requir[ing] technical mountaineers to traverse the mountainside.” The mountain’s “snow, cliffs, large boulders, crevices, and rock scree” have hindered rescuers’ ability to locate Van Pelt.

A number of search and rescue agencies are involved with the search for Van Pelt including Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Eugene Mountain Rescue, Deschutes Mountain Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue. Helicopters have searched for him from LifeFlight and the United States Army National Guard.

Other agencies are involved due to Mount Jefferson’s proximity to county borders including Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon Emergency Management, Idanha Fire Department, and Detroit Fire Department.

UPDATE: The Search for a Climber with Mendocino County Roots Lost on Oregon’s Mt. Jefferson Continues into the 4th Day

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8 Comments
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The Real Brian
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The Real Brian
2 years ago

NOT Oregon Mt., which is in Trinity…

Kinda twisty there.

Sorry to hear about the gentleman falling and missing.

Kym Kemp
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

I didn’t think about people confusing this with the Trinity County Oregon Mountain. I changed to mountainside.

Shawn Cherry
Guest
Shawn Cherry
2 years ago

Get Diana Totten, she’ll find him.

Martin
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Martin
2 years ago

Prayers that they will find him soon. A very big thank you to everyone working in that dangerous terrain trying their very best to locate him. Sad.

Angela Robinson
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Angela Robinson
2 years ago

Sorry to hear this. Mt. Jefferson is pretty remote, the searchers have their work cut out for them. Hoping for the best.

Fifz
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Fifz
2 years ago

I would think a drone could spot him?

Mark
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Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Fifz

He is possibly buried beneath rockfall, near 9,000 ft on the mtn. This is not a trivial

Scars
Guest
Scars
2 years ago

I like the idea of using drones. It sounds dangerous to rescuers. He probably passed away on impact. That’s sad for everyone who had to watch him fall. I am sorry for you who ever was there to witness this.
Who is Dianna Totten?