Search and rescue teams use rope system to recover human remains found near Cummins Peak

Update (2/21/24): The remains have been identified as Dustin Steyding of Yachats, according to Lane County Sheriff's Office.

Human remains were discovered Sunday near Cummins Peak southeast of Yachats by two search and rescue volunteers with the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

The volunteers were previously involved in search efforts near the area for Dustin Steyding, who was reported missing to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office in August of 2023.

Lane County Sheriff's Office search and rescue volunteers and deputies responded to the scene to investigate and recover the remains, which were near the bottom of an extremely steep coastal drainage with thick vegetation.

According to Lane County, operations took over 10 hours and involved a steep-angle rope system.

Volunteers and deputies used the rope system to raise the remains and the recovery team 800 feet up the drainage to safe ground.

While the Lane County Medical Examiner's Office retained jurisdiction, additional information is being withheld pending an identification of the remains.

Steyding was living and working in the Yachats area. He was reported to be in good physical condition, having previously worked as a hot shot firefighter in New Mexico. He was also said to be extremely experienced in the woods and commonly goes out for hikes to stay in shape.

On Sept. 4, 2023, Steyding's family located his vehicle on Keller Road in Lane County, which appeared to have been sitting in the area for some time. Responding deputies were unable to determine Dustin's direction of travel from the vehicle. After two days of searching the area, no clues of his whereabouts were found.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Human remains found near Cummins Peak, southeast of Yachats Oregon