Clackamas County Government: Climber Falls 500 Feet On Mt. Hood; SAR Teams Respond; Climber Found Deceased

Press release from the Clackamas County Government:

5/30/2021

Please reference CCSO Case # 21-011237

Photos: Rescue crews at accident scene: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

Photos: 

Shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday May 30, 2021 Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue (SAR) Coordinators learned of a climbing accident near the Old Chute on Mt. Hood.

Witnesses called 911 to report a climber had fallen an estimated 500 feet. The 63-year-old male subject had reportedly been descending Mt. Hood with his adult son on the popular Old Chute route, at approximately 10,500' elevation, when he fell.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue (SAR) Coordinators immediately responded -- setting up a command post at Timberline Lodge and requesting assistance from Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR), the Hood River Crag Rats, and American Medical Response's Reach and Treat Team. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was notified and had aircraft on standby. Members of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol were also staged and ready to assist.

A member of PMR and a member of the Crag Rats happened to be recreating on Mt. Hood when they learned of the accident; the two SAR volunteers immediately started making their way to the accident scene to assist with rescue efforts.

Teams from PMR, the Crag Rats, and AMR navigated difficult terrain and hazards posed by hydrogen sulfide and other toxic gases venting from fumaroles along the route as they made their way to the accident scene.

At approximately 10:31 a.m., the first deployed teams made contact with witnesses while making their way to the fallen climber. They made visual contact with the fallen climber, who was unmoving, then made their way down to the fallen climber by setting up rope systems, while also checking toxic-gas levels to ensure rescuers could safely reach the subject.

Upon reaching the climber, rescuers found the subject deceased.

This press release was produced by the Clackamas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.