Deputies from the Multnomah County Sheriff's office and search and rescue crews found two missing hikers Sunday in the Columbia River gorge but during that search they also stumbled upon several men with duffle bags full of marijuana.

The two hikers called 911 for help late Saturday night. They had spent the day hiking in the Angel's Rest trail head area and had become disoriented after taking a shortcut through Mist Falls.

One of the missing hikers has been identified as 23-year-old Noe Hernandez of Beaverton. His twin brother Serafin told Newschannel 8 that Noe and a friend named Samuel had little or no experience hiking and did not have overnight or cold weather supplies with them.

Search crews headed up the trail Saturday night to find them when they ran into the four men carrying bags full of pot.

The suspects dropped the bags and fled the area on foot.

The search for the hikers was suspended for a short time while officers pursued the four male suspects who got away.

15 deputies had to spend the night in the Gorge due to poor visibility but resumed the search for the hikers early Sunday morning.

Officials said they believed the hikers were in a drainage area off the Devil's Rest trail but had lost cell phone contact with them.

Crews from Portland Mountain Rescue also responded to help search crews rappel down into the low lying drainage areas.