sobo Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 Just heard a rumor about an accident on Mt. Hood. Two male climbers fell ~100 meters into a crevasse at the base of the SGH. Both are hurt--one with a back injury, one with a broken arm. Reported to have communication via cell phone and can see blue sky, but the helos that are up right now have not yet located the right crevasse. Anybody know any more or can confirm/refute this info? Iain? Quote
gslater Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 Iain's probably already on the way up there... Quote
ChrisT Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 From KGW.com: Two hikers fall into Mount Hood crevasse 01:52 PM PST on Thursday, November 4, 2004 By ABE ESTIMADA, kgw.com Staff MOUNT HOOD – Clackamas County emergency teams are mounting a rescue of two hikers who may have fallen 100 feet into a Mount Hood crevasse. KGW Mount Hood on Thursday afterrnoon. The Clackamas Country Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call about 11:30 a.m. on Thursday from one of the hikers, who said he and his male climbing partner had slipped to the bottom of the Sandy Head Wall on the Sandy Glacier, said Detective Jim Strovink of the sheriff’s office. The area where the accident occurred is southwest of the popular Crater Rock climbing area at the 10,000-foot level of Mount Hood. The hiker who made the emergency call broke his arm during the fall. His climbing partner had a back injury of some kind. Both are equipped with cold weather gear. “The good news is they’re in communication with us,” Strovink said. “They are conscious. They’re breathing, but they are definitely in distress.” It is unknown how the climbers fell into the crevasse, Strovink said . Also Online Strovink talks about Hood rescue Clackamas County and American Medical Response teams are staging at Timberline Lodge before making the climb to the hikers. The hikers told authorities that they are able to see the sky from the bottom of the crevasse, Strovink said. It is the clear weather that is aiding the rescue effort, he said. Rescuers want to reach the two men before sundown. “(Rescuers are) going to be making an assessment once they arrive there, if they’re going to rope these individuals out, and perhaps, they may be lifted by helicopter,” Strovink said. “We hope that would be the most expedient measure.” “…We just keep our fingers crossed and move as rapidly and as cautiously as possible.” Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 Rescuers are still on their way up. Haven't located the climbers yet. The National Guard's standing by to launch a helo... (PS - I'll make sure we don't call them "hikers.") Good luck Rescuers!!!! Brian Barker, Reporter KATU TV Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. (AP) - Two climbers on Mount Hood are awaiting to be rescued after falling into a crevasse in an area called Sandy Glacier. Clackamas County Sheriff's Detective Jim Strovink says one of the men has a broken arm and the other has a serious back injury. Strovink says the man with the broken arm used his cellular phone to call for help at about 11:30 a-m. Strovink says the two men are well equipped and have adequate clothing. The men, though in a crevasse, can see the blue sky and the weather is good. Strovink says they are still assesing the situation and are in the early stages of the rescue. Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 Just got off the phone with dispatch. Rescuers are having problems reaching the climbers on their cell. They say they've "lost communication with them." Helo's launching in five minutes from Salem. Sheriff's Dept says the climbers are somewhere on the Sandy Glacier. Our helicopter spotted some pretty nasty snow conditions at the 10-11,000 ft level. Lots of crevasses, obviously. You gotta think with the recent snows there's some pretty weak snow bridges hiding the crevasses. Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 Nick Watt with Clackamas Co S&R says climbers are at the 7,500 ft level. Lots of conflicting reports. Still trying to nail down their exact elevation... Snowcat is on the way. Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 National Guard Helo is airborne. Planning to stage at Timberline parking lot. Weather is excellent... Brian Barker Reporter KATU TV Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 Ground rescue crews haven't left. Scanner traffic indicates they believe the victims are a three hour hike away. National Guard helo is considering picking up rescuers and flying them closer... then lowering them on hoist. Brian Barker Reporter KATU TV Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 I'm headed up to the mountain for work... so this is my last update, it's old info though: Clackamas SO says they're on the Sandy Headwall... -Brian Barker, KATU Press Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office CLACKAMAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONDING TO MT. HOOD EMERGENCY November 4th, 2004 1:11 PM On Thrusday, 11-04-04, at 11:36 a.m., the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office received a cell phone emergency call from a two person climbing party on Mt. Hood. This reporting subject states he and his male climbing companion had fallen an estimated 100 ft. into a crevass at the bottom of the Sandy Head Wall, at the Sandy Glacier, on Mt. Hood. This reporting party indicates that he has suffered a broken arm, and his climbing companion is suffering from a severe back injury. However, this subject does state both have adequate cold weather clothing and that his companion is breathing. In addition, this reporting party is equiped with a cell phone and capable of communicating with rescue personnel responding to this incident. The caller states he is able to see the sky from his location, which is reported to be at least 100 ft from inside this crevass. AMR and the reach and treat personnel are responding and will be the first responders to this crisis. The weather conditions are favorable at the present time and conducive to the deployment of a rescue helicopter if required. Quote
olyclimber Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 That harsh. Best of luck to these guys. Quote
DPS Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 VW4ever mentioned he was headed up to Hood today, but I think he was going for the NF. Unless they could not get up the road and decided to do Sandy Headwall.. Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 Rescuers nearing Sandy Glacier. Natl. Guard Blackhawk helo is hovering overhead... bb Quote
barkernews Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 Helo has lowered a rescuer onto the Sandy Glacier near a very large crevasse. -bb Quote
olyclimber Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 I'm watching them lower those guys down on kgw.com. They have a live video feed. Quote
barkernews Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 The latest from the Sheriff's Office below: Brian Barker - KATU Press Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office MOUNT HOOD RESCUE EXPECTED TO TAKE CONSIDERABLE TIME November 4th, 2004 4:09 PM Information received from Clackamas County Sheriff's Office rescue personnel on the scene at Timberline Lodge are reporting this is a rescue effort which may require considerable time to accomplish. Oregon Army national Guard helicopters have now airlifted members of the Portland Mountain Rescue and American Medical Response (Reach and Treat team)to about the 8,500' level of Mt. Hood. It is the desire of this rescue team to be able to identify the exact location of the two climbers in desperate need of medical attention and rescue complete this rescue. Thank you for recognizing relative notifications have not been conducted at this time. When the appropriate notifications have been conducted, the names of these individuals will be released. Contact Info: Jim Strovink, Detective Quote
barkernews Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 Watching KOIN's helo shot on our satellite... they're uplinking it to CNN. Looks like rescuers have reached the climbers and are evaluating them and preparing them to hoist back up into the helo. Our helo, as usual, is broken. Quote
barkernews Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 Bad news guys. Looks like they're giving CPR to one of the climbers... No confirmation on this though. That's just what it looks like now. Brian Barker KATU Quote
corvallisclimb Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 according to koin the sherrifs department says the criticaly injured climber passed away Quote
barkernews Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 I can confirm that. God bless. The survivor is on the ground at Emmanuel via Lifeflight. Rescuers on their way out. I'm headed to Timberline... will be out of wireless internet range. More at 11. Brian Barker KATU Quote
Chad_A Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 Reporting home, gents. As we arrived back in the parking lot after our climb, our other partner breathed a sigh of relief, as he had stayed behind with a sick stomach of sorts. We were going to do Sandy, but with only a two man team, and the weak aforementioned possible snow bridges over crevasses, we decided to call it good, and do Leuthold Couloir, as Jeff, the other partner, had yet to do that one. Rescue personnel were just getting underway as we were leaving. Good luck to the rescuers, and my thoughts are with the climbers and their families. Quote
sobo Posted November 5, 2004 Author Posted November 5, 2004 Good to know that you're down safe and sound. I'm sure there are others here thinking the same. Quote
Couloir Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 Nice reporting Barkernews...thanks for the frequent updates. Quote
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