Harsh Weather on Mount Hood Hampering Search Efforts for 3 Stranded Climbers

The climbers, two women and a man, along with a dog, spent the night on Mt. Hood, cold and wet, but alive.

Rescue efforts for the 3 climbers continue feverishly on Mount Hood Monday. Photo: traveloregon.com

(GOVERNMENT CAMP) - 11:00 AM Update: Rescue efforts for the 3 climbers continue feverishly on Mount Hood.

Pinpointing the exact location of these climbers in White River Canyon of Mount Hood has been challenging; although, SAR personnel feel confident they have identified the precise location of the missing climbers.

Rescue personnel 'triangulated' on the MLU beacon signal which has been most beneficial in attempting to locate these climbers in the present white out and heavy snow conditions.

It is recognized that T-Mobile has also contributed to this rescue effort by providing rescue personnel with the 3 climbers cell phone location on the mountain.

This added cell phone information was obtained as assurance for the exact location rescue personnel can target as a precise location, and confirming triangulation data obtained during this rescue effort.

Efforts are currently underway to reach these individuals by a determined group of 30 rescuers.

These 30 rescuers will be deployed shortly in 6 climbing groups.

Together these rescuers will climb to the designated area where the 3 climbers, in desperate need of assistance, are believed to be located.

The extent of injuries of the 3 climbers due to their fall is not exactly known.

It has been stated earlier in cell phone conversations conducted with the party of 3 climbers, that one of them is suffering from a head injury; although, everyone remains conscious.

In fact, just after the drastic fall earlier in the day on Sunday, this party of 3 had continued to negotiate further along the mountain.

At some point after the fall, the 3 climbers actually moved a considerable distance from the original accident scene.

Monday morning some fresh resources will be joining the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Portland Mountain Rescue, the Oregon National Guard 304 "PJ's", Mountain Wave Radio Communications and the Craig Rats.

Newly arriving rescue personnel are representing the Hood River County Sheriff's Office, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Eugene Mountain Rescue, and Douglas County.

With the current weather storm entering the area, rescue efforts are intensifying with the emergency teams leaving immediately with the vital coordinates of these 3 climbers.

Salem-News.com will have more on this story as soon as it becomes available.

7:00 AM Update: Rescue efforts for the 3 climbers stranded on Oregon's Mount Hood since Sunday continue feverishly Monday morning.

Pinpointing the exact location of the climbers, two women and a man, in White River Canyon of Mount Hood has been challenging; although, SAR personnel feel confident they have identified the precise location of the missing climbers.

Rescue personnel 'triangulated' on the MLU beacon signal which has been most beneficial in attempting to locate these climbers in the present white out and heavy snow conditions.

It is recognized that T-Mobile has also contributed to this rescue effort by providing rescue personnel with the 3 climbers, cell phone location on the mountain.

This added cell phone information was obtained as assurance for the exact location rescue personnel can target as a precise location, and confirming triangulation data obtained during this rescue effort.

Efforts are currently underway to reach these individuals by a determined group of 30 rescuers.

These 30 rescuers will be deployed shortly in 6 climbing groups.

Together these rescuers will climb to the designated area where the 3 climbers, in desperate need of assistance, are believed to be located.

The extent of injuries of the 3 climbers due to their fall is not exactly known.

It has been stated earlier in cell phone conversations conducted with the party of 3 climbers, that one of them is suffering from a head injury; although, everyone remains conscious.

In fact, just after the drastic fall earlier in the day on Sunday, this party of 3 had continued to negotiate further along the mountain.

At some point after the fall, the 3 climbers actually moved a considerable distance from the original accident scene.

Monday morning some fresh resources will be joining the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Portland Mountain Rescue, the Oregon National Guard 304 "PJ's", Mountain Wave Radio Communications and the Craig Rats.

Newly arriving rescue personnel are representing the Hood River County Sheriff's Office, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Eugene Mountain Rescue, and Douglas County.

With the current weather storm entering the area, rescue efforts are intensifying with the emergency teams leaving immediately with the vital coordinates of these 3 climbers.

9:30 PM Update: Rescue personnel on Mt. Hood say they are working diligently to reach the 3 climbers that remain in distress.

The most current information reveals a recent cell phone communication has been completed between the 3 climbers and a Portland Mountain Rescue coordinator.

Portland Mountain Rescue personnel are now assessing this new information received during this brief conversation and are considering options in dealing with this newly acquired information in their efforts to locate the group.

During this cell phone conversation it was learned the 3 climbers are secured in sleeping bags -- wet and cold -- have eaten, and anxious for rescue personnel to come to their aid.

The weather conditions remain harsh with a stiff wind, freezing temperatures and heavy snow falling.

The Portland Mountain Rescue, the Oregon National Guard 304 "Pj's" and the Craig Rats make up the approximately 30 rescue personnel actively engaged in efforts to reach and treat these individuals in distress.

These rescue personnel are 'triangulating' on the emergency MLU beacon that the 3 climbers have in their possession.

8:00 PM Update: The 5 climbers rescued from Mount Hood have arrived at Timberline Lodge and are all reported in good condition.

The remaining 3 climbers are still being addressed by rescue personnel who remain on the mountain; enduring harsh weather conditions in an effort to locate and come to the aid of the missing 3 climbers.

These 3 climbers are the individuals who had reportedly fallen over a ledge, separated from the original climbing party and were out of communication.

Rescue personnel have reported sporadic cell phone contacts with this 3 party climbing group, and are following a MLU signal from the group still in need of assistance on Mount Hood.

6:00 PM Update: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue personnel have announced that the rescue team dispatched to assist the 8 climbers are making great progress with this ongoing mission despite whiteout conditions on Mt. Hood.

The rescue personnel are with the 5 climbers who were directed earlier to take shelter in a snow cave.

These 5 are being assisted down the mountain at this time.

The 3 additional climbers who reportedly fell over a ledge are located some 150' down a steep section of the mountain very close to the rescued 5 climbers.

The rescue personnel are roping into these 3 injured climbers at this time.

It is reported at least two of the three are suffering some uncomfortable, not life threatening, head injuries.

5:00 PM Update: Search and Rescue personnel have departed Timberline Lodge and traveling in a snow cat up the mountain.

It is estimated that this team of rescue personnel will arrive at their destination in approximately 2 hours, or less.

Rescue personnel have communicated with the 5 person climbing party and directed this group to stay at their present location, and build a snow cave.

The condition of the three who fell is not known at this time.

Currently search and rescue crews are battling whiteout conditions on the mountain.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating the search efforts along with help from the American Medical Response, Portland Mountain Rescue and Mountain Wave Communication Specialists.

This group has been advised to dig a snow cave and wait for rescue personnel to arrive who are coming to their aid.

When rescue personnel arrive on the scene, they will assess the situation, and attend to the immediate needs of the 5 climbers that are accounted for at this time.

Rescue personnel are concerned and aware of the 3 additional climbers who are not accounted for at this point in time.

Reportedly the 3 climbers had fallen over a ledge in the immediate area of this ongoing rescue.

These 3 climbers are not in communication with the additional 5 climbers who are requesting assistance and reporting this climbing mishap.

Original Story:

At noon time today, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office received word that a total of 8 climbers were in the area of Illumination Saddle.

For some unknown reason 3 of these climbers had fallen an undetermined distance.

The 3 climbers who have fallen are not visible, or in communication with the remaining members of the climbing party.

The remaining climbers remained at around 8,300 feet elevation on the Illumination Saddle area of Mount Hood.

It is reported that each member of this climbing party is equipped with an MLU, a mountain locater unit.

An electronic component utilized by mountaineers to enable rescuers to pinpoint your exact location if you find yourself in jeopardy.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is coordinating this search and rescue mission with American Medical Response, Portland Mountain Rescue and Mountain Wave Communication Specialists.

White out conditions are reported in the vicinity of this search and rescue targeted zone of activity on the mountain.

Clackamas County Communications has been in cell phone communications with the climbing party and this vital information is being relayed to the search and rescue coordinators assembling on the mountain.

The major unknown factor at this time pertains to the 3 climbers -- who are reported to have disappeared, and remain out of sight of the remaining climbing party.

There is no communication with the missing 3 climbers who have fallen in the area of Illumination Saddle, over a ledge.