Mountain biker reported missing in Oregon found safe: Sheriff's office

An avid mountain biker who was reported missing in Oregon after not returning from a planned biking trip last week has been found safe, authorities said Thursday.

Ralph Sawyer, 52, was reported missing Friday night by family, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said. He had left home that morning for a mountain biking trip near Mount Hood but did not return home at the expected time, the office said.

Following a nearly weeklong search effort, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified Thursday morning that Sawyer had been located safely.

"It was reported to the Sheriff’s Office that he found his car on East Still Creek Road and drove it back to his home in Gresham," the sheriff's office said in an update Thursday. "Mr. Sawyer showed up to a neighbor’s house tired, cold, dirty, and worn out. Gresham Police confirmed it was him and he was transported to a local hospital to be checked out."

No additional information was released. More updates will be shared when available, the sheriff's office said.

A search and rescue mission had been underway since late Friday night in the Mount Hood National Forest to locate Sawyer, who has a "long history of mountain biking in the area and is familiar with the terrain," the sheriff's office said.

Officials were able to locate Sawyer's vehicle, a blue Kia Soul, at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday. His cellphone was also found inside the vehicle, officials said.

ATVs, canine units and drones were utilized in the search efforts, officials said.

Dozens of people also participated in the search for Sawyer day to day.