CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Crews suspended the search Thursday for a fisherman who's been missing for more than two weeks in the Mount Hood wilderness.
Robert Bissell, 57, of Portland went camping on July 12th in the Roaring River Wilderness area near Rock Lakes.
Deputies said as many as 70 searchers were in the field at a time for as long as 16 hours a day, covering more than 100 square miles of rugged trails, lakes, streams, creeks and steep wilderness.
"Given the amount of time Mr. Bissell had been missing, the intense search of the area, and the lack of clues regarding Robert Bissell's location it was determined the risk to searchers in the field outweighed the likelihood of recovering Robert Bissell," deputies said Monday.
His brother, Michael visited the camp site on July 19th and grew concerned when Robert never showed up. Michael Bissel told deputies he left a note on Robert's vehicle asking him to contact the family. Bissell's car was found Monday at the Shell Rock Lake Trailhead.
The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency from the state of Washington joined Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and Portland General Electric joined regional search teams.
Michael returned on July 24 and said nothing in Robert’s campsite had changed. That’s when he reported his brother missing to police.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team responded to the area on July 25 but found no sign of Robert.
Authorities have not said exactly when Bissell had planned to return home from the camping trip or what kind of supplies he had with him for day hikes.
"It is only with their extreme devotion and personal sacrifice that a search of this scale could occur. Robert Bissell's brother Michael Bissell also wishes to express his deepest gratitude to all of the searchers who helped search for his brother."
His hair and beard are gray in color and longer than shown in a photo sent out by deputies.
Bissell remained listed as a missing person in the national database, flyers are still being circulated, and deputies would continue to accept tips and information regarding Bissell's location.
Additional field searches could be considered if clues developed in the case, searchers said.
Anyone who has had contact with Bissell in this remote area since July 12th 2010 was asked to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff Tip Line at (503) 723-4949.
