Here’s a very recent survival story that you can learn from so it doesn’t happen to you.

–

–

–

Mount Hood is located in the northwestern part of Oregon, east of Portland. Mount Hood is within the Mount Hood National Forest which covers an area of approximately 1,067,043 acres (1,667 square miles). It’s elevation clocks-in at approximately 11,249-feet. Mount Hood has 06 ski areas and hiking trails. Mount Hood also has 12 named glaciers and snowfields. Since records have been kept (May 2002), approximately 130 have died trying to climb Mount Hood.

On 12 May 2019 (Sunday), a lone climber was negotiating the massive steep terrain of snow-covered Mount Hood.  The lone female hiker was traversing the deep snow-laden steep mountain when she got stuck in deep snow and was unable to free herself. It’s unknown how long she was stuck before her cries for help were heard by her rescue climbers.

It’s reported the lone climber was near a route called the ‘Pearly Gates’ and this area should have been avoided. According to Erik Broms from the Portland Mountain Rescue: “This is the high traverse, which we don’t recommend doing this time of year because when the sun hits these rocks and cliffs up here, it warms up and creates ice and rock fall.”

Steve Hogberg and his son are experienced and savvy climbers and by astronomical luck were climbing near the distressed climber, within hearing distance of the distressed climber’s cries for help.  As Mr. Hogberg put it: “As we approached, we could hear her crying and screaming and calling for help, ‘Somebody help me.’”

Hogberg’s son was taking photos during the rescue. The photographs show how steep and how deepness of the snow, which demonstrated the serious threats to the lone climber to include her 02 rescuers.

Using a 60-meter rope (180-feet) and other climbing gear, Steve Hogberg and his son secured and rescued the lone distressed climber.

The news article wisely states: “The mistakes she made should be a warning to others.” The lone climber made the following serious deadly mistakes:

• Alone
• First time climbing Mount Hood
• Did not have the proper climbing equipment
• Climbing equipment was improperly fitted (the woman’s crampons did not fit properly)

Erik Broms from the Portland Mountain Rescue goes on to say: “I’ve seen people with dress shoes trying to get crampons on them. I’ve seen it all.” “Really get to know your equipment because your equipment is going to save your life.” “If it’s improperly fitted, it can come off at a critical time and result in fatal injury, which has happened numerous times on Mount Hood.”

Steve Hogberg’s son was hit in the shoulder by ice but it wasn’t life-threatening. Steve Hogberg and son helped the female climber slowly trekked down Mount Hood to safety. The rescued climber had a good helping of luck on her side. Her ignorance in climbing and other mistakes almost led to her death. I give great thanks to Mr. Steve Hogberg and his son for saving the life of the lone climber.

–

Could This Near Tragedy Be Avoided?

Listen, my last 03-years in the US Army, I volunteered for Senior ROTC. One of my several military classes was Mountaineering. I put hundreds & hundreds of students off the rappel tower accumulating to THOUSANDS of rappels. I wisely did this by teaching selected SROTC cadets how to be Rappell Masters. Over a 03-year period, they acted as Rappell Masters and safely put hundreds & hundreds of rappellers off the 03 lanes of the rappel tower accumulating to thousands of rappels.

I call myself a qualified military Rappell Master, but I’m not stupid enough to climb Mount Hood with the military mountaineering knowledge and experience I have which is very inadequate.

If I wanted to climb Mount Hood, I’d make sure I was in far better shape than I am now and I’d hire a professional climber and take a few days of training. Then I’d climb Mount Hood under the escort & guidance of the same professional climber.

Now how could this lone climber AVOID her near tragedy? Here are some of my humble recommendations:

1. Never venture outdoors alone
2. Monitor the weather and ABORT for in-coming storms
3. Get properly trained for your specific outdoor adventure
4. Purchase or rent the proper equipment
5. Plan your climb with specific details & safest route
6. Hire a professional on your 1st climb, it should be a confidence builder climb (half a day round trip)
7. Carry a satellite phone for emergency communications
8. Each climber, carry a backpack with a few days provisions (03-times your planned trip) which includes the 8 Elements of Survival (Fire, Water, Shelter, First-Aid, Signal, Food, Weapons and Navigation)
9. Next climb, climb with climbers with several climbs and years of experience

Here are a few blog posts links that are worthy of your survival attention:

• “How To Plan Your Outdoor Adventure!”
• “09 NEVER Get Lost Navigation Tricks!”
• “15 Isolated Lone Survivors Who Beat The Killer Odds!”
• “12 Real Survival Tragedies You Have To Know!”
• “Save My Life… Survival Program!”

I also suggest that you go to the “Table Of Contents” and take a good look over the other wilderness survival blog posts under the Category – ‘Wilderness Survival.’

–

Article Source: Lindsay Nadrich – (KGW8 – Portland, Oregon)

–

–

IRISAP Copyright 2019 – All Rights Reserved