Authorities are seeking the public’s help locating a 65-year-old man who disappeared during a rafting trip through one of the most remote stretches of the Rogue River in Josephine County.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has issued a missing-person notice for Reid Litwack, who was last seen Tuesday, August 4, at Wild Cat Rapid in the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance have not been detailed by authorities, and officials have not indicated whether Litwack was last observed in the water, on shore or aboard a raft.
The Sheriff’s Office listed the investigation as case number 26-21169 and reported Litwack missing on August 4.
Litwack is described as a 65-year-old man who stands approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has red and gray hair and blue eyes. According to information released by the Sheriff’s Office, he was last seen wearing a red long-sleeve hooded shirt and green pants.
Authorities also released a photograph of Litwack to assist with identification. The photograph was taken during the rafting trip, providing the public and search personnel with a recent image of the missing man.
The location where Litwack was last seen adds considerable difficulty to efforts to determine his whereabouts. The Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River passes through rugged and isolated country downstream from the more populated portions of Josephine County. Much of the river corridor is surrounded by steep terrain and areas with limited road access, making travel and emergency response significantly different from operations along developed sections of the river.
Wild Cat Rapid is among the rapids encountered by boaters traveling through the federally protected Rogue River corridor. Rafting trips through the area can extend for several days, and access to many locations is primarily by river or wilderness routes.
Exactly how Litwack became separated from his rafting trip remains unclear based on the information publicly released by the Sheriff’s Office. Authorities have not reported that a rafting accident occurred, nor have they publicly stated that Litwack was witnessed entering the water. No information has been released indicating whether personal belongings, rafting equipment or other evidence associated with his disappearance have been recovered.
Those distinctions are important as the investigation remains active. Without additional information from authorities, the case remains a missing-person investigation involving an individual last known to be traveling through a remote river corridor.
The Rogue River’s Wild and Scenic section attracts private boaters and commercial rafting groups throughout the summer. Its isolation is a major part of the area’s appeal, but the same geography can complicate emergency situations. Steep canyon walls, wilderness terrain, stretches without conventional vehicle access and moving water can make searches considerably more challenging than those conducted near populated communities.
As of the Sheriff’s Office notice, Litwack remained the subject of an attempt-to-locate effort, and authorities were requesting information from anyone who may have seen him or who may know something about his whereabouts.
People who traveled through the Wild Cat Rapid area on or around August 4, including rafters, anglers, hikers and other recreationists, could potentially possess information useful to investigators. Even observations that initially appear insignificant may help authorities establish where and when Litwack was last seen.
Anyone with information concerning Reid Litwack or his whereabouts is asked to contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-5123 and reference case number 26-21169.
