3 climbers fall from Mount Hood

“PORTLAND, Ore. - Three climbers fell off a ledge on Mount Hood Sunday morning, and rescuers were ascending the snowy mountain in an effort to find them, authorities said.

The climbers were in a party of eight people, Strovink said. They were not visible, and they have not been communicating with the remaining members of the party, Strovink said.

Emergency dispatchers received a call for help from someone in the group, which was believed to be at an elevation of about 8,300 feet. Strovink said the climbers have cell phones and were all carrying electronic mountain locator units, but no one has been able to pinpoint their location.

The mountain can be treacherous for climbers, particularly in the winter. In December, search teams scoured Mount Hood for days in the hopes of finding a group of missing climbers alive. The bodies of Brian Hall, of Dallas, and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke, of New York, have not been found. Another climber in their group, Kelly James, of Dallas, died of hypothermia.

The three had set out on a two-day trek, but James called his family to say that the party was in trouble and that his two companions had gone downhill for help. Authorities suspect James suffered a dislocated shoulder, perhaps in a fall.”

“I hope these guys are ok. How reliable and critical are the personal locators? If they use GPS technology wouldn't they know just about were they are located? What are some opinions on them?”

“The technology isn't fool proof, for either the cell phone gps's or the PLD's.

Airplanes have been using ELT's for many years and they don't always work right. They are tools, the men and woman on the ground are the ones who ultimately make the difference......usually.”

“Seems they might have been found....

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Rescuers located three climbers who fell from a ledge on Mount Hood on Sunday and all appeared to be in "relatively decent" condition, a sheriff's spokesman said.

Rescuers were in the process of rappelling about 150 feet down a cliff to reach them, said Jim Strovink, spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

"We believe all three are in relatively decent" condition, Strovink said. One was believed to be fine; the other two may have concussions, Strovink said.

Five others who were in the climbing party also were located and were on the way off the mountain, he said.

Emergency dispatchers received a call for help from someone in the group earlier Sunday. The group was believed to be at an elevation of 8,300 feet.

The rescue efforts were being complicated by heavy snow and wind on the mountain, but authorities said the climbers were wearing electronic locator devices.

The mountain can be treacherous for climbers, particularly in the winter. In December, search teams scoured Mount Hood for days in the hopes of finding a group of missing climbers alive. The bodies of Brian Hall, of Dallas, and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke, of New York, have not been found. Another climber in their group, Kelly James, of Dallas, died of hypothermia.”

“It sounds like they're okay. I certainly hope so.”