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Reserve pararescuemen help rescue Mount Hood climbers

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny
  • 939th Air Refueling WIng
MOUNT HOOD, Ore. --  (AFNEWS) Air Force Reserve pararescuemen from 304th Rescue Squadron, Portland International Airport, Ore., were called Feb. 18 to assist in the search and rescue effort for three stranded climbers.

While attempting to descend Mount Hood, Ore., the three people and a dog, who were roped together, fell through a snow cornice and landed in a life-threatening situation.

The climbers activated their mountain locator units, or MLUs, and used a cell phone to call for help. Rescuers were able to help five other climbers from the group back to the Timberline Lodge, but the three remaining climbers would spend the night facing blizzard conditions.

The 304th team, four pararescuemen and two combat rescue officers, arrived at Government Camp at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 and checked into the Clackamas County Sheriff's command post. They were the only team to search throughout the night and tracked a beacon signal transmitted from the climber's MLU, said Capt. Mark Ross, 304th RQS combat rescue officer.

"We had them electronically during the entire search," said Captain Ross. "It's not an exact location, but we could hear their beacon signal and reported coordinates to narrow the search area and mark a safe trail for the other teams to follow in the morning."

Using a directional antenna, the six-man PJ team searched for more than 12 hours through deep snow, below-freezing temperatures with winds in excess of 70 mph causing white-out conditions.

While they searched during the night in high avalanche danger areas, they reported their coordinates by radio to be plotted using mapping software in the command post at Timberline Lodge.

"The MLU helped this time," said Hal Lillywhite, Portland Mountain Rescue command post volunteer. "I don't think they would have found them so quickly if they didn't have the locators."

"The MLU (only used on Mount Hood) is a small transmitter that can be activated in an emergency and transmits up to 60 days," said Mr. Lillywhite. "However, the signal does not give an exact location and it is not monitored. Emergency services will not be activated until someone calls for help."

Rescuers said the MLU is better than nothing, but the device's technology is outdated. They recommend climbers use more effective locator devices such as a personal locator beacon, Global Positioning System or emergency position indicating radio beacon, that are continuously monitored by satellites and can pinpoint exact locations, along with a cell phone. Items offering this level of technology are often more costly, but can usually be rented.

"These devices can take the search out of search and rescue," said Captain Ross. "It's a small price to pay when every minute counts toward survival."

After searching for more than six hours, the exhausted team made temporary shelters in the snow at 4 a.m. They ate Meals, Ready to Eat and candy bars to regain their strength before continuing their search for the missing climbers.

"The search was brutal and we climbed hard to get to the missing climbers," said Captain Ross. "Once the sun came up more rescue teams were sent into the area. We were poised at the entrance to the climbers but stopped due to the hazards."

The 304th team and the other rescue teams surveyed the terrain to come up with a plan to continue the search.

"Our team was on the way to continue the search when the teams met at the first avalanche hazard," said Captain Ross "To avoid exposing rescuers to avalanche conditions, we made a risk benefit decision to send a smaller, fresh Portland Mountain Rescue team into the area. They could report back if they needed additional assistance. We went into a stand-by mode waiting to hear if the rescuers needed our help."

At 11 a.m. Feb. 19, rescuers reached the missing climbers and the Clackamas Sheriff's Office, reported that all was well. The rescuers and climbers were able to walk out and they were picked up by a Sno-Cat around 3:30 p.m. to bring them further down the mountain.

The 304th RQS and the Clackamas, Hood River and Washington County Sheriff's Offices worked together with many volunteer organizations including Portland Mountain Rescue, Hood River Craig Rats, Eugene Mountain Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, and Mountain Wave Radio Communications.

"We've always appreciated the 304th's experience and help in rescues," said Sheriff Deputy Tygh Thompson, Washington County Sheriff's Office SAR coordinator. "These guys bring a mass of people who are skilled in many different areas who are paramedic, who can climb mountains and swim rivers. They are an all-purpose rescue resource, and they have skills and equipment that no one else has. I think we are blessed to have them in the area. If we could do more training scenarios together throughout the year it would be a benefit for all."