Missing Hikers on Mount Hood: Aid Bigfoot Search Teams in Recovery Efforts

In a recent video from the Pacific Northwest Bigfoot Search YouTube channel, Tanner Hoskins, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project (PNW MPPP), delves into two mysterious disappearances on Oregon's Mount Hood. As a dedicated researcher and a fellow Bigfoot enthusiast, I was captivated by the haunting stories of Fred Fron and Kenneth Budlong, two experienced outdoorsmen who vanished without a trace. Fred Fron, a 49-year-old sign painter from Portland, Oregon, embarked on a solo snowshoeing trip from Timberline Lodge on March 2, 2003. His plan was to reach Hogback, a narrow ridge at approximately 10,500 ft in elevation, and return to the lodge by 5:00 p.m. to meet his wife and two sons. When Fred failed to return, an urgent search and rescue mission was launched. Despite exhaustive efforts, no trace of Fred was ever found. In August of 2003, human remains were discovered in Zigzag Canyon, initially thought to be Fred's. However, the state medical examiner later determined they were not. This case remains an active and ongoing investigation. The second case takes us back to September 24, 1995, when Kenneth Budlong, a 45-year-old global inventory manager for Nike, set out on a solo ascent of Cathedral Ridge. Despite not having a climbing helmet, Ken was well-equipped for his adventure. When he didn't check in with his family the following afternoon, a search and rescue mission was initiated. Ken's tent was later found near the McNeel Point shelter, with all his belongings inside except for him. Ground teams focused on nearby glaciers and ice fields, but freezing rain and fierce winds made the search impossible. Ken Budlong remains missing to this day. These disappearances serve as a chilling reminder of nature's raw power and the mystery that still surrounds Mount Hood. If you have any information about these cases or stumble upon something while exploring the area, please contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office at 503-655-8281. As we await further developments in these cases, let us continue to support the Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project and their search and recovery efforts. Their vital work in the backcountry is made possible by donations from supporters like you. To learn more about donating, visit [pnwmp.org](pnwmp.org). In the meantime, if you plan to recreate in the great outdoors, become familiar with who is missing in the area you plan to explore. You never know when you might find something that brings answers and closure to a grieving family. Together, we can help unravel the mysteries that surround us.