OR Man Chaitanya Sathe ID’d As Mazamas Hiker Killed In 100 Foot Fall At Smith Rock Saturday

TERREBONNE, OR. (THECOUNT) — Chaitanya Sathe, of Hillsboro, Oregon, has been identified as the Mazamas hiking group member killed in a 100 foot fall while visiting Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne on Saturday.

Sathe, 35, was hiking with a group with people when he fell 100 feet at the popular outdoor spot on Saturday.

The victim fell while making his way down a climbers’ path toward the northeast Lower Gorge Saturday, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Sathe was pronounced dead at the scene of multiple blunt force trauma injuries suffered in the fall.

“Yesterday we lost a dear member of our community. While out on a personal day of climbing at Smith Rock State Park, Chaitanya Sathe suffered a fatal fall while descending 4th class terrain into the Lower Gorge,” said a message sent out to Mazamas members.

“As climbers, we recreate in environments with objective hazards. We engage in a lifetime of learning to lessen risk, but, as we all know, it is not possible to eliminate risk entirely. When accidents occur, we find ourselves asking and being asked many questions—from media, friends, and families. While we know there are and will be unanswered questions, we encourage all of us not to speculate or draw conclusions as to what may have happened. We will do our part, as Mazamas, to learn and share what we can,” the statement also said, reports KGW.

Sathe was going into the Lower Gorge at Smith Rock State Park when he fell, the statement said..

The group is offering counseling for its members and memorial service plans are pending.

According to Facebook, Sathe was originally Bangalore, India.

Friends and family members took to facebook to remember the beloved man:

Geo quick facts: Terrebonne is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,257 at the 2010 census – Wikipedia.