News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's Office leads successful rescue of lost snowboarder on Mt. Hood
Posted: Feb. 21, 2011, 12:52 p.m.
Search & Rescue (SAR) Coordinators from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and SAR volunteers responded to Mt. Hood on Sunday afternoon in response to reports of a missing snowboarder.
On Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 at 3:30 p.m., Clackamas County 911 dispatchers received information that a 26-year-old male had called a friend using a cell phone to report that he was lost on the mountain.
The missing snowboarder was reportedly visiting a friend in Hood River, and was believed to reside in the southeastern United States.
SAR Coordinators had been communicating with the missing person periodically on his cell phone earlier -- but the snowboarder's cell-phone battery is believed to have expired around midnight. While direct communications were established with the missing person, SAR personnel were able to obtain a modest amount of logistical information that would guide SAR efforts continued on Feb. 21.
SAR Coordinators report that the missing snowboarder had elected to climb Mt. Hood on Sunday (Feb. 20) while carrying his snowboard -- and became disoriented during his descent in heavy snow. The snowboarder reported being positioned around a tree-line --most likely on the west side of Mt. Hood.
The last telephone communication revealed that the missing 26-year-old was perched somewhere on a ridgeline. Rescue personnel focused their search efforts on the west side of the mountain.
At 12:52 p.m. on Feb. 21, it was snowing on Mt. Hood and the temperature was 16 degrees. The missing snowboarder was reportedly wearing appropriate clothing for recreational snowboarding, but was not equipped for overnight conditions.
An estimated 30 or more SAR volunteers have responded to Timberline Lodge to participate in the search -- including American Medical Response, Mountain Wave Emergency Communications, Pacific Northwest Search & Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. Additional assistance was requested from the Oregon Army National Guard (a helicopter) and the U.S. Air Force Reserves (para-jumpers).
As soon as weather and daylight permit, the search efforts on Mt. Hood will continue - hopefully, with the aid of an Oregon Army National Guard helicopter.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, 5:30 a.m.
Sheriff's Office SAR Coordinators re-established telephone communications with the missing snowboarder on Mt. Hood.
At about 4 a.m., SAR Coordinators received a call from the 26-year-old. He had reportedly fallen asleep for at least four hours, between midnight and 4 a.m. This cell-phone contact would aid in the search effort.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at 6:30 a.m.
SAR Coordinators report that volunteers were actively searching in the darkness on Mt. Hood. Volunteers were concentrating their search efforts working ridges on the west side of the mountain. Search efforts were to expand when additional volunteers arrived to relieve those engaged in the search since Sunday evening.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, 8 a.m.
SAR Coordinators were optimistic about the weather conditions on Mt. Hood. A Sheriff's Office SAR Deputy reported that visibility was improving. From the SAR Command Post at Timberline Lodge, the Mt. Hood summit was clearly visible, with clouds clearing and moving down below the lodge -- good news for rescue personnel.
Relief SAR volunteers arrved from Washington State and central Oregon. An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter crew anxiously waited for the weather to enable them to contribute to the ongoing search effort.
KGW also volunteered its news helicopter to contribute to the search effort.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, 8:55 a.m.
SAR Coordinators reported that during a recent phone call, the missing snowboarder told deputies he could hear a helicopter (KGW's) overhead in his immediate vicinity on the west side of Mt. Hood.
This good news confirmed that SAR Coordinators were focusing search efforts in the right area.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, 10:30 a.m.
SAR Coordinators report that at least 15 experienced SAR personnel were deployed on Mt. Hood to search for the missing snowboarder.
In addition, the Mountain Wave Emergency Communications mobile command center was on-scene -- with several communication technicians providing a smooth communications network for search-and-rescue personnel.
SAR Coordinators reported that the search was expected to continue well into the day as ground-searchers moved slowly through the rugged, snow-filled terrain.
The Oregon Army National Guard helicopter was expected to arrive in the area to participate in the search.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, 11:30 a.m.
SAR Coordinators and volunteers were pleased to announce the location and rescue of the missing 26-year-old snowboarder.
The rescued snowboarder was lifted into the Oregon Army National Guard helicopter and transported to a Timberline Lodge parking lot.
The rescued snowboarder was found to be in good medical condition. He is identified as Brantley Acree III, 27, formerly of Roanoke, Virginia.
The Oregon Army National Guard helicopter located and airlifted Acree from the west side of Mt. Hood shortly after 11 a.m. this morning. He was airlifted directly to the landing zone in the Timberline Lodge parking lot, and was immediately evaluated by American Medical Response personnel staged in the area. He was declared to be in good spirits and in good medical condition.
The Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue unit would like to publicly express their sincere appreciation to all those that contributed to this successful rescue mission. A special thanks is extended to the following organizations:
Without the support received from these fine organizations and others, those in peril would perish.
Please refer to Clackamas County Sheriff's Case #11-5423
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Contact Info:
Jim Strovink, Detective
Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office