[Breaking] 3 climbers fall on Hood; rescue effort underway

The Oregonian ^ | February 18, 2007

[sodpoodle]

Fox just reported that 5 are in a snow cave. There is also a man & woman in another snow cave - all in contact with rescuers.

However, the three people that fell into a crevasse have GPS & cell phones, but have not been heard from.

I think that's the latest.

sp

[gridlock]

Part of mountain climbing is that when you screw up, you die. That is one of the reasons people do it. By intervening, the authorities are trying to make safe something that should not be safe by it's very nature.

Nobody climbs mountains for the view.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Question: "Can they afford to peel one away from the Anna Nicole coverage?"

Response: I'm announcing paternity today.The camera people are arriving now.

[sodpoodle]

Well, I see you already knew that!

A sense of adventure is admirable, but this weather clearly should have prevented them from attempting such a risky endeavor.

The cost to rescuers, family members etc., is not all about the money......but the money is not chump change.

sp

[jazusamo]

Yep, that's the way I understood it.

[RunningWolf]

I understand what you are saying about the climbers being irresponsible, but rescue assets cost money whether they are sitting on the ground, in training, or employed in rescue.

So rather than charge them with the entire bill, maybe figure out the difference in expense and let them pay that difference.

[redgolum]

Prayers up/

[sodpoodle]

You make too much sense!

Get down off that mountain;)

Gotta go - Geraldo has an Anna Nicole expose on methadone.

sp

[volunbeer]

You are not speaking ill of them. They need to ban climbs in the winter before rescue workers get killed. This is foolish!

I have been up once and we were going to climb it again in July or August this year. It's a tough climb but the view from the top on a clear day is incredible.

I would NEVER try to climb any of the big three (Adams, Ranier, Hood) in the winter. I snowshoe in the winter.

[Mr. Brightside]

Each of the fallen climbers is equipped with a Mountain Locator Unit, which could help rescuers find them if the climbers are conscious

Does this mean that the unit turns off if the climbers are unconscious?

Brilliant battery saving idea! /sarc

[Global2010]

Lastest wx report on Mt.Hood
70mph winds and white out condition.

5 people in the party.
2 have honkered down in a snow cave and 3 have fell off the mountain.

Not looking good. JMO

[FreedomCalls]

The mountain ought to be demolished and used for filling New Orleans against future flooding.

Mt Hood is a volcano. If you scraped off the top it would erupt again since the mountain is like a plug that holds it in, and you'd have to start all over again.

[freepersup]

Climbers rescued... 1 OK, 2 w/ concussions?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070219/ap_on_re_us/mount_hood_climbers

[SkyPilot]

I don't wish to speak ill of these people but just what the hell were they thinking???

That they are going to climb a mountain in the dead of winter and show God who is boss.

[Tarpon]

If Mt Hood blew up, would it bury Portland? hmmm, just thinking, New Orleans could use the fill. </s>

[jazusamo]

That's great news, freepersup. Thanks for posting the link.

[paulat]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070219/ap_on_re_us/mount_hood_climbers

3 climbers survive fall from Mount Hood 32 minutes ago

PORTLAND, Ore. - Rescuers located three climbers who fell from a ledge on Mount Hood on Sunday and all appeared to be in "relatively decent" condition, a sheriff's spokesman said.

Rescuers were in the process of rappelling about 150 feet down a cliff to reach them, said Jim Strovink, spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

"We believe all three are in relatively decent" condition, Strovink said. One was believed to be fine; the other two may have concussions, Strovink said.

Five others who were in the climbing party also were located and were on the way off the mountain, he said.

Emergency dispatchers received a call for help from someone in the group earlier Sunday. The group was believed to be at an elevation of 8,300 feet.

The rescue efforts were being complicated by heavy snow and wind on the mountain, but authorities said the climbers were wearing electronic locator devices.

The mountain can be treacherous for climbers, particularly in the winter. In December, search teams scoured Mount Hood for days in the hopes of finding a group of missing climbers alive. The bodies of Brian Hall, of Dallas, and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke, of New York, have not been found. Another climber in their group, Kelly James, of Dallas, died of hypothermia.

[jazusamo]

Thanks, paulat. A good ending for a change.

[paulat]

Backatcha, Jazusamo!

Now...if we could just get these knuckleheads grounded in some kind of reality....

[freepersup]

You're welcome. It's a relief to learn of the climbers quick rescue.

Apparently their electronic locaters were activated, aiding in locating the climbers. Maybe they learned from the mistakes of the trio that died on the mountain some weeks ago? One drawback to the electronic locaters, is that they are self activating... so if a fall renders oneself unconscious, they remain off.

Perhaps a lanyard (on the order of a parachutist's static line) attached to (something ?) would become taunt upon a fall and activate the locater. Lots of gaps in actually implementing such a plan due to the free movement of the climbers. Once in the act of climbing, the lanyard could be attached to the rope.