The body of a 53-year-old Portland man was recovered from the Sandy River nearly one week after he was reported missing, police said.
Rescue crews recovered Christopher Smaka’s body Monday just before 7:30 p.m., Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Smaka, an avid outdoorsman, was reported missing around 10:30 a.m. on July 12 after he didn’t return home from a hike near Gordon Creek. He did not plan to camp overnight, authorities said. Deputies located his car near Southeast Gordon Creek Road, and later located his belongings on the Sandy riverbank, across the river from where authorities found his body.
About 25 rescue personnel looked for Smaka after he was reported missing. The search was ultimately suspended on July 14.
Smaka was reported missing by his significant other, who last received a text from him around 8:30 a.m. July 11, as first reported by KOIN 6.
– Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; (503) 319-9744
