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Beaverton Man Found Dead After Fall from Table Mountain
Melvin Burtch had not been seen since Tuesday morning when he left for a hike.
A 31-year-old man from Beaverton who went to Table Mountain in Skamania County for a day hike was found dead Wednesday afternoon at the base of the mountain. Officials say they believe he fell 700 feet from the summit.
Melvin Burtch had last been seen Tuesday morning. He had taken a friend's dogs with him to go on the hike.
Wednesday morning, employees of nearby Bonneville Hot Springs resort saw Burtch's car parked at the trailhead, unoccupied except for the two dogs. They called the sheriff's office.
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Deputies were able to reach the owner of the dogs who told them she had last heard from Burtch around 2:00 Tuesday afternoon when he texted her a picture that seemed to be from the top of the mountain.
Search and rescue teams were deployed while deputies worked with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, as well as with AT&T and Apple. Using information from Apple and AT&T, they were able to track his phone to the base of the mountain.
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His body was found about 50 yards away.
Photo courtesy Walter Siegmund via Wikimedia Commons
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