News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Climber airlifted off Mt. Hood after 300-foot fall

Posted: Oct. 19, 2008, 2:31 p.m.

On Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 at 12:33 p.m., the Clackamas County Communications Center (C-COM) received a cell-phone call from a male climber, Jeff Manor, age 31, of Rochester, Washington.

Manor reported that another climber -- Chris Biddle, age 39, of Puyallup, Washington -- had fallen, tumbling a distance estimated at 300 feet.

Manor told C-COM he was not injured -- but that the other climber , Biddle, had suffered some facial cuts, knee and elbow injuries, but was conscious and breathing.

Both climbers were reportedly dressed warmly, and the weather conditions were comfortable.

Manor, who was assisting Biddle, said he was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Manor is a volunteer fire fighter in training with the Little Rock Fire Department in Washington. Manor also told C-COM that he and Biddle were not originally climbing together, but had reached the summit at the same time.

American Medical Response's Reach And Treat (RAT) Team was alerted and deployed to assist the injured climber. It was believed the climbers were located just west of the Hog's Back, on a reasonably level portion of Mount Hood. The elevation in this particular location is approximate 10,600 feet.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinators responded to Timberline Lodge to command the rescue mission. SAR Commander Lt. Matt Ellington ran the command post established at Timberline.

Lt. Ellington reported that at approximately 12:45 p.m., the RAT Team took the ski-lift to the end of the line at the Palmer Glacier, then continued their trek, climbing up the mountain to render aid.

At 3:37 p.m., Lt. Ellington reported that the Oregon Army National Guard 1042nd Air Ambulance Company had been alerted.

The RAT Team reached the climbers at approximately 3:45 p.m.

The Oregon Army National Guard 1042nd helicopter flew to the Hog's Back area and lowered a medically trained member of their flight crew down to join rescue personnel on the ground with Biddle. This flight-crew member assessed the situation -- and at approximately 6:15 p.m., the injured Biddle (who was reportedly in fair condition) was airlifted off the mountain and flown directly to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland.

Jeff Manor is willing to talk with with media outlets; contact PIO Jim Strovink to set up an interview.

A fuller story emerged later in an interview with Manor:

Manor reported that he and Biddle were solo climbers summiting Mt Hood at about the same time late Sunday morning. While descending the summit, the two climbers joined forces to better negotiate the difficult climbing conditions they encountered. It was then that Biddle slipped and fell -- tumbling an estimated 300 feet over ice and snow.

Jeff Manor immediately came to Biddle's aid and called 911 dispatchers. A short time later, another climber arrived on the scene, volunteering assistance. Manor and this Good Samaritan decided that Manor should continue on as fast as possible to ensure that help was summoned to the scene. Manor also states this Good Samaritan, visiting from Austria, was well-versed in wilderness-survival techniques and was the most experienced to remain with Biddle.

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

Biddle was expected to be released from OHSU this morning (Oct. 20).

Chris Biddle was contacted, and all required notifications are complete.

[END]

Contact Info: Jim Strovink, Detective
503-237-2643