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Photos and video (courtesy Portland Mountain Rescue)
- Photos: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]
- B-roll video: PMR skiing injured patient down to Timberline Lodge (.mp4 format)
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office led a successful June 17 mission to evacuate an injured climber from Mt. Hood’s high crater area.
Around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, a 43-year-old climber attempting to summit Mt. Hood tripped in a very steep area known as Old Chute, high on the mountain's south side. The climber tumbled and sustained a leg injury. The fall happened at approximately 10,750' elevation, roughly 500' from the Mt. Hood summit.
The injured man's climbing partner and other climbers called 911 and helped him down the steepest part of the crater to the Hot Rocks area, located at approximately 10,321' elevation.
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Coordinators deployed volunteers from Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR) and American Medical Response's Reach and Treat (RAT) Team to evacuate the climber.
Rescuers reached the patient at Hot Rocks around 12:30 p.m. They stabilized the injured man and secured him in a specialized litter.
Rescuers then transported the injured climber over the Hogsback and across bare rock to an area between Devil’s Kitchen and the base of Crater Rock. From there, two PMR rescuers skied the litter down the mountain, with a rope belay operated by other rescuers. After descending about 600', conditions and terrain allowed them to ski the litter without ropes the rest of the way to an American Medical Response ambulance waiting at Timberline Lodge.
The rescuers reached Timberline Lodge at approximately 3 p.m. The patient was successfully evacuated within about 8 hours of the initial 911 call, a rapid response for a technical rescue from this part of Mt. Hood.
Mark Morford of Portland Mountain Rescue offered the following safety advice following the mission:
"May through early July is a popular time to climb Mt. Hood. Nevertheless, all routes up the mountain are technical, requiring specialized training and equipment. All routes become progressively more difficult approaching the summit, which can lure climbers into situations beyond their skill. This time of year, rock and ice fall are a major hazard as soon as the sun hits the upper slopes. We urge climbers to get proper training from an organization like the Mazamas or climb with a qualified guide."
The Sheriff's Office thanks the following who participated in the June 17 mission:
- Portland Mountain Rescue
- American Medical Response's Reach and Treat (RAT) Team
- Timberline staff
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Brian McCall, Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Communications Unit