Injured Climber on Mt. Hood Safely Evacuated

Clackamas County SAR personnel report that the injured climber was plucked-off Mount Hood safely by 1042nd‏ Helicopter Squadron.

Oregon Guard 1042nd Medical Company Blackhawk Photo by Tim King Salem-News.com

(MOUNT HOOD, Ore.) - Search and Rescue personnel on Mount Hood are reporting that the Oregon Army National Guard 1042 helicopter flew to the Hogs Back area of Mount Hood, and lowered a medically trained member of their flight crew down with rescue personnel on the ground to assist the patient.

This member of the flight crew assessed the situation and determined the best options available to remove the injured climber, 39-year old Chris Biddle of Puyallup, Washington, from the mountain.

SAR officials report that at approximately 6:15 PM this evening, the injured climber was air lifted off the mountain and flown directly, in fair condition, to Legacy Emanuel Hospital, in Portland.

Also, the first person on the scene rendering aid to the injured climber earlier is identified as 31-year old Jeff Manor of Rochester, Washington. Clackamas Sheriff's Office Spokesman Det. Jim Strovink, says Manor is a volunteer fire fighter - in training - with the Little Rock Fire Department, in Washington.

"In a conversation with Jeff Manor, I was informed of the following information: Manor described how he and another climber were solo climbers that summited Mt Hood at about the same time late this Sunday morning. While descending the summit, these two climbers joined forces to facilitate negotiating a number of difficult climbing conditions they encountered. It was then the accompanying climber slipped and fell, tumbling over ice and snows an estimated 300'."

Strovink says Jeff Manor immediately came to the aid of this injured climber and initiated the cell phone call for help to 911 dispatchers.

"A short time later, another climber arrived on the scene volunteering assistance. Manor and the newly arriving Good Samaritan decided Manor would continue on as fast as possible to insure help was summoned to the scene.

Manor told rescue personnel that the Good Sam, visiting from Austria, is very well versed on wilderness survival techniques and was the most experienced to remain with the injured climber.

"The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is very grateful to all the rescue personnel involved in today's successful rescue mission," Strovink added.