News

Race against time & weather in search for climbers

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Eyewitness News

(New York - WABC, December 13, 2006) (WABC) -- Another search began Wednesday in the search for climbers missing on Mt. Hood in Oregon, but time and weather is of the essence at this point.

A fresh team was joining the search Wednesday, and crews may get some help from heat-seeking, unmanned aircraft provided by a Colorado company and pinpoint cell phone detection equipment from another high-tech company, said Pete Hughes of the Hood River County Sheriff's Department.

"But if anybody is above the 7,000-foot range, we're not going to be able to get to them," Hughes said. "And we're probably not going to be able to get to them by Thursday either, unless there happens to be a break in the weather."

Even at the base camp at Cooper Spur, the wind hit 60 mph Wednesday morning and temperatures hovered in the 30s. At higher elevations, the teams have faced wind so strong it knocked them off their feet, plus poor visibility in blowing snow and a threat of avalanches. More stormy weather was in the forecast.

"The next 48 hours is not looking very good," Hughes said. Plans called for two staging camps on the north and south sides of the mountain so teams can head to the summit quickly if the weather breaks, he said.

Two of the hikers are from Texas. The third, Jerry Cooke, is from Brooklyn.

Authorities say they have added about 20 new rescuers to the effort.

Crews said they encountered winds gusts of about 85 miles per hour on Monday, which, along with the snow, reduced visibility to the extent where they at times could not see their feet.

Six to 12 inches of snow was expected overnight in the area.

Officials say the three men set out last Wednesday.

The men reportedly left a note in their vehicle in the parking lot at the bottom of the mountain saying who they were and what they planned to do - climb an advanced route to meet friends. They never showed up.

Thanks to a cell phone signal, officials believe at least one of the hikers was 11,000 feet up and found temporary shelter in a snow cave.

The hope is that all three were able to take refuge in a snow cave, which experts say can provide shelter from the weather.

Hood River County Deputy Sheriff Marc Smith says search teams are hoping for a break in the bad weather to resume searching. However, officials say snow could delay the search for several days.

Get more News »