Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project

Lost in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness – The Cases of Sandy Rice & Riley Zickel

Season 3 Episode 7

Send us a text

The Mount Jefferson Wilderness in Oregon is a breathtaking yet unforgiving landscape. In this episode, we examine two disappearances that have haunted the region since 2016.

On June 23, 2016, 59-year-old Sanford "Sandy" David Rice, an experienced outdoorsman, set out on a solo hiking trip near Marion Lake. He never returned. Despite extensive search efforts, no trace of him has ever been found.

Just a month later, 21-year-old Riley Zickel vanished while hiking alone near Jefferson Park. Unlike Rice, his remains were discovered three years later in a glacial area above Jefferson Park, a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers of solo wilderness exploration.

What happened to Sandy Rice? Why did it take years to find Riley Zickel? These cases highlight the risks of the Cascade Mountain Range—dense forests, extreme terrain, and the unknown forces lurking within.

Join me as we dive into these stories, the search efforts, and the eerie legends tied to this rugged wilderness. And if you hike alone, please—carry a Personal Locator Beacon. It could save your life.

DONATE TO PNWMPP we are 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all donations are tax deductible.
www.pnwmpp.org

BUY TANNER'S NEW BOOK!
The Silent Forest: Disappearances in the land of legends
https://a.co/d/3TqWH91

Support the show

Visit our websites:
www.pnwmpp.org
www.pnwbigfootsearch.com

Donate today:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7D8GF5RM2V274

Follow us on social media:
www.youtube.com/@pnwbigfootsearch
www.instagram.com/pnwmpp
www.instagram.com/pnwbigfootsearch
www.facebook.com/pnwmpp
www.facebook.com/pnwbigfootsearch

People on this episode