Search planned for two climbers missing on Mount Hood

Search planned for two climbers missing on Mount Hood
Posted by The Oregonian January 15, 2008 08:20AM
Categories: Clackamas County, Outdoors, Top Stories, Weather

Clackamas County authorities are planning a search today for two experienced climbers who went missing on Mount Hood overnight.

The climbers have not been identified. They had a cell phone but have not made contact with authorities. They did not have a mountain locator unit, a device that emits a signal in case climbers get lost.

"That is really disturbing," said Clackamas County sheriff's Detective Jim Strovink.

The climbers, two men in their late 20s, were due back from their climb about 3 p.m. Monday afternoon. They were expected to arrive at Timberline Lodge, where their car is parked.

Strovink said said while authorities know the pair is experienced, they don't know how well equipped they are. He said initial, unconfirmed reports suggest the men did not have a shovel, which would make it difficult to build a snow cave. Search authorities this morning are talking to the pair's family members to determine what type of equipment the men packed.

Rocky Henderson, an experienced searcher and volunteer with Portland Mountain Rescue, said the climbers' intended route was the Leuthold Couloir, the second most popular route up the west side of the mountain. They began their ascent about 5:30 a.m. Monday and planned to return by 3 p.m.

Henderson said the route, located on the southwest side of the mountain, is a technical one and suggests they were experienced. He added that current conditions on the mountain may have turned the steep Leuthold Couloir into an especially treacherous route.

"Given a lot of new snow and stuff it might be very dangerous to be there," he said.

The route the climbers planned to ascend is considered the "trash chute" of the mountain, said veteran climber Steve Rollins, a volunteer with Portland Mountain Rescue. He said couloirs act like funnels or large gullies coming off the mountain. Debris, ice, rocks and other hazards tend to roll through the couloir. That's why it's better to travel light and move swiftly when traversing the couloir. It's not likely the climbers had tents or sleeping bags.

"That is one of the reasons why it's somewhat safer to go light and fast," Rollins said. "If you are going slow you are going to be exposed to all that stuff coming off the mountain."

Henderson said the men filled out a climbers' register and one told his girlfriend the pair planned to descend by 3 p.m. She phoned authorities between 7-8 p.m. to say they had not shown up.

Search and rescue coordinators arrived at Timberline about midnight to begin planning the rescue operation. Cell phone ping activity, which has helped previous search efforts for climbers, has not produced reliable information for searchers this morning.

Eight members of Portland Mountain Rescue were called to the mountain this morning but their search efforts have been stalled because of dangerous conditions, which include heavy snow and wind.

Strovink said four teams of volunteer searchers -- 16 in all -- are on standby this morning. They are waiting for severe weather conditions to clear so they can begin to ascend the mountain. He said it's 10 degrees and the wind is creating whiteout conditions.

Members of the 304th U.S. Air Force Rescue Squadron also are headed to the mountain to help with the search.

In December 2006, the fate of three climbers became a national story after they attempted a winter summit of Mount Hood. Bad weather overtook them on Dec. 10, and blizzardlike conditions pinned searchers near the timberline for days.

Kelly James, 48, of Dallas, Texas, was injured and holed up in a snow cave. Brian Hall, 38, also of Dallas and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke of Brooklyn, N.Y., left to get help. James eventually was found dead of hypothermia. Hall's and Cooke's bodies have never been found.

-- Noelle Crombie

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingn...o_climber.html

edit: local news said the rescuers had to come back down due to high winds and low visibility.

Climbers have been located; pair are in good condition
Posted by The Oregonian January 15, 2008 09:27AM
Categories: Clackamas County, Outdoors, Top Stories, Weather


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A pair of climbers who failed to descend Mount Hood as planned Monday have been found; both are in good condition, search and rescue authorities said.

Searchers are bringing snow shoes to the climbers to aid in their descent, officials said. Both climbers are able to walk out of the woods on their own.

Earlier this morning, the men made cell phone contact with the girlfriend of one of the climbers. Jeff Sheetz, Portland Mountain Rescue, said the two climbers told the girlfriend they are moving through the trees. They are not sure where they are but think they're in Zigzag Canyon or one of the smaller canyons off there. Four teams of searchers - about 20 people in all - are heading up in vehicles, then will head in on trailheads.

Clackamas County sheriff's Detective Jim Strovink said the pair walked out of a snow cave this morning and called a friend. They said they were in good shape and were descending the mountain. Searchers think the men are at about 3,600 feet in the tree line.

Strovink said the men are disoriented. "They don't know where they are at," he said. "They seemed jovial and comfortable."

News that the climbers have been located came minutes after whiteout conditions prompted two teams of searchers to turn back from their ascent up the mountain.

The teams set out at 7:10 a.m. in a Sno-cat, which was to take them to 7,500 feet. But conditions on the mountain are poor. Strong winds have created whiteout conditions and the temperature at Timberline Lodge is hovering around 10 degrees. Visibility is less than 100 yards.

The climbers, two men in their late 20s, were due back from their climb about 3 p.m. Monday afternoon. They were expected to arrive at Timberline Lodge, where their car is parked.

Authorities will not identify the climbers. They did not have a mountain locator unit, a device that emits a signal in case climbers get lost.

"That is really disturbing," Strovink said.

Strovink said said while authorities know the pair is experienced but they don't know how well equipped they are. He said initial, unconfirmed reports suggest the men did not have a shovel, which would make it difficult to build a snow cave. Search authorities this morning are talking to people who know the climbers to determine what type of equipment the men may have packed.

Rocky Henderson, an experienced searcher and volunteer with Portland Mountain Rescue, said the climbers' intended route was the Leuthold Couloir, the second most popular route up the west side of the mountain. They began their ascent about 5:30 a.m. Monday.

Henderson said the route, located on the southwest side of the mountain, is a technical one and suggests they were experienced. He added that current conditions on the mountain may have turned the steep Leuthold Couloir into an especially treacherous route.

"Given a lot of new snow and stuff it might be very dangerous to be there," he said.

The route the climbers planned to ascend is considered the "trash chute" of the mountain, said veteran climber Steve Rollins, a volunteer with Portland Mountain Rescue. He said couloirs act like funnels or large gullies coming off the mountain. Debris, ice, rocks and other hazards tend to roll through the couloir. That's why it's better to travel light and move swiftly when moving along the route. It's not likely the climbers had tents or sleeping bags.

"That is one of the reasons why it's somewhat safer to go light and fast," Rollins said. "If you are going slow you are going to be exposed to all that stuff coming off the mountain."

Henderson said the men filled out a climbers' register and one told his girlfriend the pair planned to descend by 3 p.m. She phoned authorities between 7-8 p.m. to say they had not shown up.

Eight members of Portland Mountain Rescue were called to the mountain this morning but their search efforts have been stalled because of dangerous conditions, which include heavy snow and wind.

In December 2006, the fate of three climbers became a national story after they attempted a winter summit of Mount Hood. Bad weather overtook them on Dec. 10, and blizzardlike conditions pinned searchers near the timberline for days.

Kelly James, 48, of Dallas, Texas, was injured and holed up in a snow cave. Brian Hall, 38, also of Dallas and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke of Brooklyn, N.Y., left to get help. James eventually was found dead of hypothermia. Hall's and Cooke's bodies have never been found.

Wow. A happy ending, at least. I was wondering just the other day about the two missing climbers from last year; if their bodies were ever found. Sad for their families, for sure.

Yeah, I thought deja vu all over again. My question is why were they not carrying a gps? These things are so cheap nowadays.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GoldMember

Wow. A happy ending, at least. I was wondering just the other day about the two missing climbers from last year; if their bodies were ever found. Sad for their families, for sure.

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i don't they were ever recovered

Im suprised at how many people on hood dont own/rent a PLB when climbing. Seeing how many people get lost there, and the fact that a cheap rental can save you thousands of dollars in S&R fees, its amazing that people STILL wont use them.