Recovery by Search & Rescue took 10 hours in challenging conditions
Ashland.news staff report
On Sunday, Feb. 15, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to a report of a deceased adult male near the summit of the Wagner Butte Trail outside Talent, according to JCSO.
The individual, identified as Michael “Mike” James Beagle, 63, of Central Point, was found at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet in steep, mountainous terrain, JCSO said in the statement. Beagle served as director of SOU alumni relations since 2012.
JCSO Medical Examiner detectives investigated and determined the death was the result of “a medical event.” Search & Rescue recovered Beagle on Monday, Feb. 16, after approximately 10 hours searching for him in the field — navigating more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain over a 10-mile round trip in snow and strong winds — volunteers safely and respectfully recovered him and transferred him to a local funeral home.
No suspicious circumstances were observed and there is no further investigation, according to JCSO.
The recovery required JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) deputies and volunteers to respond in challenging conditions, including snow, ice, high elevation, and an approaching winter storm, according to the release. Teams worked until after sundown to help ensure other hikers in the area exited safely as weather conditions deteriorated.
JCSO Search and Rescue is made up of more than 100 highly trained volunteers dedicated to serving the community in difficult and often hazardous conditions, the release noted.
In a heartfelt tribute to Beagle, JCSO said in the post, Southern Oregon University shared the following in his memory: “Mike left us while doing what he loved most, exploring the mountains and forests of Southern Oregon. We will carry forward his warmth, his humor, and his unwavering love for SOU.”
There is no further information available for release, according to JCSO, which shared condolences to his family and loved ones.
Beagle is survived by his wife, Amy, and two children, according to SOU.
Reach Ashland.news reporter Holly Dillemuth at [email protected].
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SOU alumni director Mike Beagle, 63, dies unexpectedly (Feb. 17)
