When daylight arrived on Friday, August 2, helicopters were brought in to assist in the search for Paul Brandt, 82, of Grand Marais. Brandt ,who lives at Nor’Wester Lodge on the Gunflint Trail, did not return from blueberry picking the evening before. The Cook County Search and Rescue ground search for Brandt was suspended on August 6 but community members continue to scour the area in hopes of finding some sign of Brandt.
The ground search for a missing Grand Marais man, Paul Brandt, 82, was suspended at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, according to the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office. Chief Deputy Leif Lunde said the ground search had been suspended because “all reasonable locations have been searched without success.” Search efforts began at 9:40 p.m. on Thursday, August 1.
“We obviously haven’t looked over every square inch of Cook County,” said Chief Deputy Lunde. “But we have looked where we believe Mr. Brandt could have realistically gone.”
Items were found in the search area—a thermos lid, a baggie of blueberries and an apple—but it is not believed the items belonged to Brandt. The only viable clue searchers have is his vehicle, which was found at the very end of the rough Seagull Guard Station heliport road. Lunde said the vehicle was locked. When a key was provided, the vehicle started. “There is a possibility he lost his keys,” said Lunde, but he said searchers and search dogs went up and down the entire gravel road as well as the Gunflint Trail. “There is no evidence that he walked out to the Gunflint.”
Lunde said the final decision to suspend the search was his, in consultation with the incident management team, as well as search and rescue personnel from other counties.
Lunde said the Sheriff ’s Office will continue patrol and aircraft efforts. They will also continue to post public notices regarding Brandt’s disappearance. “We’re just not doing the ground-pounding grid search,” said Lunde.
Friends and family on the Gunflint Trail are doggedly continuing the search for Brandt, something that Lunde said law enforcement didn’t discourage. In fact, Lunde said, “It’s not only okay, it’s something we encourage. I would like to see him found as much as anyone.”
The Brandt family is spearheading continued search efforts. They ask that anyone who would like to assist with the search to contact Karyn at Nor’Wester Lodge at (218) 388-2252.
The Sheriff ’s Office will post a map of the geographic area that was searched on the Cook County website at: www.co.cook.mn.us/. The area of the Gunflint helicopter landing pad where the search was under way is again open to the public.
Brandt went missing while blueberry picking up the Gunflint Trail on Thursday afternoon, August 1. According to the first public notification from Cook County Law Enforcement, Brandt is 6’1, 190 pounds and has gray hair and blue eyes. He wears glasses. It is not known what he is wearing.
At the time he went missing, his family described Brandt as in good health and “pretty fit.” Brandt lives at the lodge operated by his family, Nor’Wester on the Gunflint Trail and it is unusual for him not to return home.
The search involved the use of helicopter, fixed wing aircraft, four search dogs and according to Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk, “many, many people.”
Assisting in the search efforts were personnel from search and rescue teams from Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties as well as Central Lakes Search & Rescue in Minnesota and Sawyer County Search & Rescue of Wisconsin; Minnesota State Patrol; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Border Patrol; and the Gunflint, Hovland, Colvill, Maple Hill, Lutsen, and Grand Marais fire departments.
Sheriff Falk said there was also a tremendous number of civilian volunteers who assisted the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office with this effort.
Chief Deputy Lunde said, “The Sheriff ’s Office sincerely and gratefully thanks all of the organizations and volunteers who assisted with the search efforts.”
Anyone with any information regarding the location of Paul Brandt is asked to please call the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office at (218) 387-3030.
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