News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office
Above:Mt. Hood's Illumination Rock on Dec. 11 (left) and Dec. 14 (right) --
illustrating the dramatic change in weather conditions on the mountain.
Additional photos are linked below.
Sheriff's Office searches for three climbers on Mt. Hood
Posted: December 12-15, 2009
Photos from Tuesday, Dec. 15 press conference:
Photos of climbers:
UPDATE: Dec. 16, 2:39 p.m.
NEWS RELEASE: Sheriff's Office suspends search-and-rescue mission on Mt. Hood
EARLIER: DEC. 16, 12:43 p.m. -- NEWS CONFERENCE SET FOR 2 p.m.
The Sheriff's Office has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon (Wednesday, Dec. 16) at 2 p.m. in the Barlow Room at Timberline Lodge.
Media outlets have inquired about the possibility of running this conference live. That request has been forwarded to Timberline Lodge management.
The Sheriff's Office will provide an audio mote box at this conference for all attending media outlets.
EARLIER: WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16, 2009, 12 noon
Recent news-media headlines:
EARLIER: TUESDAY MORNING, DEC. 15, 2009:
On Monday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m., the Sheriff's Office search-and-rescue mission on Mt. Hood was paused for the evening.
Early Monday morning, weather conditions and avalanche conditions on Mt. Hood appeared destined to halt rescue efforts. However, conditions did improve, bringing clear visibility to the very top of the mountain around 9 a.m.
This improved weather brought a swift response from rescue personnel -- enabling the launch of an Oregon Army National Guard helicopter, a UH-60 Blackhawk, from Salem.
The helicopter's landing zone -- situated at the Timberline Lodge parking lot -- allowed members of Portland Mountain Rescue to climb aboard and accompany the National Guard flight crew on an estimated 90-minute aerial search over Mount Hood. This resulted in a thorough aerial search of all the critical areas rescue crews were anxious to examine.
Aboard this craft was Portland Mountain Rescue mountaineer Monty Smith, who said, "This clearing of the weather and ability to hover over a wide area of the mountain was very thorough and advantageous. The visibility was remarkable."
In addition, two four-man search teams representing the Hood River Crag Rats were deployed to the Reid Glacier area for an expanded ground search.
Also, eight members of the 304th Rescue Squadron/U.S. Air Force, based in Portland, were on-scene expanding the ground search on Mt. Hood.
In spite of Monday's extensive air and ground search, the two missing climbers were not located.
The National Weather Service incident meteorologist assigned to this ongoing mission is reporting an additional, more-severe weather pattern on Tuesday (Dec. 15) that is expected to bring large amounts of snow to the mountain.
Sheriff Craig Roberts was on the mountain on Monday, and met with family and searchers. "This remains an active search-and-rescue mission," Roberts emphasized, "and the Sheriff's Office remains dedicated."
The Oregon State Medical Examiners Office contacted the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office earlier Monday, providing autopsy results for the deceased climber, Luke Gullberg, age 26, who was discovered by searchers Saturday morning on Reid Glacier. The Medical Examiner's Office reported that Luke Gullberg had not sustained any life-threatening injuries, and died as a result of exposure.
Sheriff's Office SAR Coordinators next assembled on Tuesday morning (Dec. 15) at 7 a.m. to assess the weather conditions and plan the next stage of the search effort.
A large accumulation of snow fell on the mountain throughout the night, and this snowfall was expected to continue throughout the day.
All search-and-rescue crews were on standby, waiting to be advised of what (if anything) can be accomplished on the mountain today.
Mountain Wave Emergency Communications volunteers remain on the mountain providing critical support for the related communication demands.
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office has received additional assistance from the Oregon Military Department -- which will provide additional air and ground support to the ongoing search.
At this writing, members of the U.S. Air Force 304th Rescue Squadron are in the field conducting an avalanche assessment in the vicinity of Timberline Lodge.
Sheriff Roberts has arrived once again on Mt. Hood, and will be conversing with the family and friends of the missing climbers.
In addition, a physician, Dr. Teri Schmidt, has been summoned to the mountain to address any medical questions the family may have regarding the survivability of the two missing climbers. Dr. Schmidt will be conversing with the family and friends during the day, and may be available to interested media outlets in the later part of the afternoon.
Dr. Schmidt, is board-certified in emergency medicine and was a Medical Director for American Medical Response in 1990, including its Reach And Treat (RAT) Team. Dr. Schmidt is knowledgeable in medical aspects of search and rescue.
The weather on the mountain continues to deliver whiteout conditions -- with no expectation of clearing during the remainder of the day. Although harsh weather and severe avalanche conditions exist on the mountain, SAR Coordinators continue planning and coordinating with all available rescue resources.
In the event a break in the weather presents a window of opportunity, all assets remain on ready alert and can be instantly deployed. This remains a very active search-and-rescue mission.
EARLIER: Dec. 12-14, 2009
On Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office personnel and volunteers continued a search-and-rescue (SAR) mission on Mt. Hood for three missing climbers.
Late Friday evening (Dec. 11), Clackamas County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Coordinators were alerted by a friend of one of the three climbers that this climbing party was overdue. Sheriff's Office SAR Coordinators learned the climbers intended to return to Timberline Lodge around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon.
The three climbers -- two males and a female, Luke T. Gullberg, Anthony Vietti and Katie Nolan -- are described as experienced, and were reportedly well-equipped for their intended climb and summit of Mt. Hood. These three climbers did complete the climbing registration at Timberline Lodge prior to their departure at 1 a.m. Friday morning. (This is not an unusual hour to depart for the intended climb this party was conducting on Mt. Hood.
The SAR Coordinators learned earlier today that one of the climbers had activated a cell phone on Friday, at 1:30 a.m. That cell-phone activation was most probably conducted while the climbers were still in the vicinity of Timberline Lodge. This was not a call or text-message declaring an emergency.
Some relatives of the missing climbers were present at Timberline Lodge, and additional out-of-state family members were anticipated late Saturday afternoon (Dec. 12). These family members are being briefed by SAR personnel and are receiving emotional support from a Sandy Fire Chaplain.
Portland Mountain Rescue volunteers were on the mountain Saturday searching for the missing climbers. Weather conditions on Mt. Hood were described by SAR personnel as treacherous, with falling snow and limited visibility.
The Sheriff's Office is fortunate to have skilled mountaineers from Portland Mountain Rescue available to participate in this mission. In addition, Mountain Wave Emergency Communications personnel are maintaining critical lines of radio communications for SAR personnel on the mountain.
At least 30 volunteers were present on the mountain on Saturday. The search has concentrated on or near the Reid Glacier, at around the 9,000-foot leve on the western face of Mt. Hood.
Sheriff's Office SAR Coordinators prepared for the mission to continue into Sunday and expressed concerns about the treacherous weather conditions.
Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Jim Strovink was at Timberline Lodge, providing media with a steady stream of info on mission developments.
One climber found deceased
On Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., the Sheriff's Office announced that SAR personnel had located one of the missing climbers. SAR volunteers found this climber deceased at approximately 10 a.m. on the Reid Glacier, at about the 9,000-foot level of Mt. Hood.
This deceased climber is identified as Luke T. Gullberg, age 26, of Des Moines, Washington. Gullberg's body was transported off the mountain by SAR volunteers and delivered to the Clackamas County Deputy Medical Examiner. A forensic examination of the deceased wsa anticipated shortly thereafter.
SAR personnel were unable to locate the two additional climbers, known to have been climbing with Luke Gullberg: Anthony Vietti, age 25, of Longview, Washington and Katie Nolan, age 29, of Portland, Oregon.
Plans were made to resume the search for Vietti and Nolan on Sunday morning at first light (approximately 5 a.m.). Weather conditions on Mt. Hood were expected to improve -- providing SAR personnel greater search capabilities.
The Sheriff's Office summoned additional assistance from Portland Mountain Rescue for Sunday's mission. In addition, calls for assistance were transmitted to Corvallis Mountain Rescue and the Hood River Crag Rats.
Relatives of the climbers were present at Timberline on Saturday evening, providing each other comfort during this painful ordeal.
Search continues Sunday with air support
On Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, SAR Coordinators and volunteers remained actively engaged in the ongoing Mr. Hood rescue mission.
The serious avalanche conditions that exist on the mountain prevented ground personnel from searching. However, aerial surveillance was conducted when weather permitted.
The Oregon Army National Guard deployed a helicopter to Mt. Hood to assist with the aerial surveillance requested by the Sheriff's Office. In addition, a Civil Air Patrol fixed-wing aircraft participated in the search, focusing attention around the Reid Glacier.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter equipped with thermal-imaging capabilities was also summoned to assist with the aerial search. This Coast Guard helicopter was deployed from Astoria, Oregon.
The Sheriff's Office obtained photos of the three climbers from relatives. These images are linked above.
Search continues Monday; weather remains a factor
On Monday, Dec. 14, SAR Coordinators and volunteers continued the rescue mission.
SAR Coordinators briefed at 5:30 a.m. at Timberline Lodge, assessing weather and avalanche conditions on the mountain. It was revealed that avalanche conditions on the mountain are more severe than they were on Sunday, preventing ground-search efforts. However, aerial surveillance was conducted, producing high-resolution photo images that SAR personnel are examining for any trace of the missing climbers.
Aerial surveillance was once again provided by Civil Air Patrol, the Oregon Army National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The National Weather Service has provided the expertise of an incident meteorologist, Scott Weishaar -- who is at Timberline Lodge providing personnel with mission-critical weather predictions and data.
It is predicted that a small window of weather opportunity may appear on the mountain between noon and 4 p.m. today (Monday, Dec. 14). In the event this opportunity occurs, SAR personnel will again assess and evaluate what further search activities can be safely conducted.
Weather permitting, an additional opportunity may come in the form of an unmanned drone aircraft. A Washington-based company, INSITU, has been in communication with SAR personnel to discuss the possibility of deploying one of these aerial surveillance craft to assist with the search. This deployment has not been confirmed at this time.
An informal news conference was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 14 at the entrance to the climber's registration desk at the day lodge. Representatives of the Sheriff's Office, Portland Mountain Rescue and the 304th Rescue Squadron of the U.S. Air Force Reserve were expected to be present to provide the most recent information to media outlets.
The Sheriff's Office acknowledges the commendable efforts provided by all the volunteers engaged in this mission.
[END]
Jim Strovink, Detective
Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office