FATHER AND SON CLIMBING PAIR LOCATED AND RESCUED FROM MOUNT HOOD (CLIMBERS IDENTIFIED)PHOTOS ATTACHED
Posted: June 6th, 2010 9:10 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-06/624/35844/P1010027.JPG (Mark Till in center, Robbie Behind)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-06/624/35844/P1010026.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-06/624/35844/P1010024.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-06/624/35844/P1010022.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-06/624/35844/P1010018.JPG
At about 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 6th, the Clackamas Communications Center received a call from a 49-year-old man in request of assistance on Mount Hood. This man said he and his 17-year-old son were lost, in white-out conditions, at the 8100 foot level on Mount Hood. The man reported he and his son were not hurt, but they were very tired and cold. All of their clothing and equipment was wet.
The lost climbers made the decision to stay in their current location and wait for rescuers. The father placed a bright colored helmet on top of a large rock they were sheltered behind. His 17-year old son was wrapped in a silver emergency blanket, trying to maintain warmth in the high winds.
The father and son team had started a Mount Hood climb the previous evening at about 10:00 p.m. After reaching the summit, the pair began their descent. Several thousand feet down from the summit, limited visibility and high winds stopped their progress and they became disoriented.
GPS coordinates were obtained from the caller's cellular phone. With this information, Search and Rescue coordinators from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office were able to determine that the lost hikers were on the White River Glacier. A search team made up of Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR) and AMR Reach and Treat (RAT) climbers located the lost pair at about 3:30 p.m.
The climbers are currently being guided to a location near the top of the Palmer lift, where they will be loaded in a snow cat and transported to Timberline Lodge. Once at the lodge, medical personnel with have an opportunity to further evaluate their condition. The climbers are able to walk on their own ability.
(Once the climbers are safely at the lodge, SAR members will send me some photos for distribution and I'll be able to release the names of the rescued climbers. I'll send a supplemental release at that time. )
CLIMBERS IDENTIFIED
As of 5:30 pm, Mark Till (49 years old) and his son Robbie Till (17 years old), both from the Tigard area are loaded in a snow cat and on the way to Timberline Lodge. Conditions remain poor, with low visibility (1-200 feet) at the level the climbers were found.
Mark and Robbie Till were equipped with a Mountain Locator Unit (MLU). Searchers used the GPS coordinates from Mark Till's cellular phone to get into the right area, they then used an MLU receiver to pinpoint the pair's location.
Mark and Robbie Till are safely off the mountain and in good condition. All search and rescue coordinators have left the scene. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office partnered with PMR, AMR and Mountain Wave during this operation.
Captain Kevin Layng
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office
PIO Pager 503-237-2643
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