Father of 4 who went missing while hiking found de-ad

A family in Oregon is grieving the tragic loss of a father who was discovered deceased in the Mount Hood National Forest.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office reported that the body of 33-year-old James Macdonald was located on Friday after an exhaustive search near the Paradise Park Trail.

Macdonald’s family had reported him missing around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday when he failed to return from what was intended to be a day hike.

His last known contact was around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, when he called his wife.

“He FaceTimed her upon arrival and told her, ‘I’m here; it’s beautiful,’” shared Ben Seeley, Macdonald’s brother-in-law. “He even mentioned to my sister, ‘I’m surprised by how much snow is up here on Mount Hood in November.’”

Macdonald, an experienced hiker, had not packed gear for an overnight stay in winter conditions.

In response, Clackamas County Search and Rescue coordinators deployed volunteer teams on Wednesday to search for him. They discovered what appeared to be footprints in the snow, which led to an intensified search effort.

Several agencies and resources, including aerial support, joined in the search, which continued until Macdonald’s body was found around 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

“From what I understand, he was unprepared to endure a night in the cold, and he ultimately succumbed to exposure after becoming lost,” Seeley explained.

Seeley shared that Macdonald was nearing the end of his radiology residency at Oregon Health & Science University. He was a dedicated husband and father, leaving behind four children, including one-year-old twins.

“He loved taking his two older sons hiking; they all enjoyed the outdoors,” Seeley said. “He was deeply committed to his family, always there for his kids.”

A GoFundMe page has been created to provide support for Macdonald’s family.