News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue recovers body of overdue climber; climber's family releases statement
Posted: Feb. 6-7, 2012
Jared Townsley photos: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
UPDATE: Feb. 7th, 2012, 9:59 a.m.
Gregg Townsley, father of Jared Townsley, released the following statement regarding the death of his son as a result of a climbing accident on Mt. Hood:
Townsley's family issued a statement thanking all the people involved in the search and asked that members of the media respect their privacy while they grieve their loss.
Jared's father, Gregg Townsley, said that his son was a skilled climber who had summited Mt. Hood at least a dozen times, including a half-dozen solo climbs.
Jared Townsley, 32, was married and had two children. He and his wife, Charlotte, lived in Tigard.
His older brother, Joshua Townsley of Portland, is executive director of the Evergreen office of Habitat for Humanity in Vancouver, Wash. His sister, Rachel Stramel of Cornelius, is pastor of the Orenco Presbyterian Church.
The Townsley family has no further comment at this time.
UPDATE: Feb. 7, 2012, 9:42 a.m.
Volunteer search crews have located the body of Jared Townsley this morning on Mt. Hood.
Mr. Townsley had been reported overdue yesterday after departing Timberline Lodge to summit Mt. Hood.
Mr. Townsley's body was found below an area of cliffs at about 9,200 ft. in elevation. The location and condition of the scene indicate Mr. Townsley likely died from a severe fall.
The State Medical Examiner will determine official cause and manner of death.
Search crews now begin the process of recovering Mr. Townsley's remains.
This search was assisted by following volunteer search groups:
UPDATE: Feb. 6, 2012, 9:03 p.m.
The overdue climber had been identified as Jared Townsley, age 32, from Tigard.
Search teams from Portland Mountain Rescue and Mountain Wave Emergency Communications are currently in the field searching for Mr. Townsley.
EARLIER: Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, 4:58 p.m.
On Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 at 1:54 p.m., the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an overdue climber on Mt. Hood. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue (SAR) Coordinators are responding to Timberline Lodge now.
Mountain Wave Emergency Communications and Portland Mountain Rescue are also responding to the call.
The climber -- a 32-year-old Tigard man -- is reported to be an experienced climber who has summitted Mt. Hood as many as 15 times and as recently as last month. He left Timberline last night at midnight, and was expected to return by 11 a.m.
The climber's vehicle is still in the parking lot and he has not signed back into the climber’s registry, indicating he has not yet returned to Timberline.
There is no further information at this time.
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Contact Info:
James Rhodes, Sergeant
Office of Public Information
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office