Search Continues Near Mapleton for Missing Mushroom Picker

Lane County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams and volunteers continued searches on December 9 after 32 year old Springfield resident Erik Everardo Aguilar Cisneros went missing while mushroom picking near Hadsall Creek Road south of Mapleton. Aguilar Cisneros was last seen on December 6 and is described as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing about 220 to 225 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black raincoat, black rain pants and a black and red baseball hat.

Search efforts have included coordinated ground teams, K9 units and drone flights as crews scoured extremely rugged terrain. Responders reported using ropes to access steep drainages as they moved through areas that are difficult to reach on foot. Volunteers from the local search and rescue community are working alongside sheriff’s office personnel, and officials asked anyone with information to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.

The case underscores safety challenges associated with mushroom hunting in the Coast Range and other backcountry areas near Mapleton. Poor weather, limited visibility and complex topography can turn a routine outing into a prolonged emergency, and the search is stretching volunteer time and specialized resources. For residents who forage or recreate in remote areas it is timely to confirm plans with someone at home, carry maps and navigation tools, and prepare for the possibility of overnight conditions.

Beyond the immediate operation, this incident raises institutional questions about search and rescue capacity and prevention outreach. Local officials rely heavily on trained volunteers and specialized equipment to respond to backcountry incidents, and repeated rescues can reveal gaps in communications, trail signage and emergency notification. Policymakers and county leaders may need to assess funding priorities for equipment, training and public education so that sheriffs and volunteer teams can respond safely and effectively.

For now the investigation remains active and community assistance is critical. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office so search teams can follow up and determine next steps.