Mountain Search for Missing Oregon Professor Intensifies

The mathematics and statistics professor's car was discovered at a trailhead Tuesday.

Daming Xu Photo: uoregon.edu

(McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore.) - The air and ground search for a University of Oregon professor missing since Sunday will get back underway this morning.

Searchers on the ground and in the air searched the Cascade Mountain foothills east of Eugene yesterday for 63-year-old Daming Xu, who went missing after telling friends he was going on a day hike.

Lane County Sheriff Russell Berger says other hikers came forward yesterday, saying they saw Xu Sunday near the Ollalie Summit. They said he may have been carrying a backpack.

Berger says the biggest challenge Xu faces is the nighttime weather, which could dip below freezing overnight.

There were 26 searchers involved in the ground search including six on horseback. Two helicopters were also used during yesterday's search.

Xu is described as 5-foot 8-inches tall and 155 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lane County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 541-682-4141.

Salem-News.com will have more on this story as soon as it becomes available.