GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. - Fears of an avalanche on Mount Hood forced rescuers to use a helicopter and airplanes in the search for two missing climbers yesterday, a day after crews found the body of their climbing companion on a glacier on Oregon’s highest mountain.
Eight inches of snow fell on the 11,249-foot mountain overnight, and avalanche dangers in the higher elevations made a rescue mission on foot too risky.
The three climbers had begun their ascent on the west side of the mountain about 1 a.m. Friday and were due back several hours later in the afternoon, but failed to return. Crews found the body of Luke T. Gullberg, 26, of Des Moines, Wash., on Saturday, on the glacier at the 9,000-feet level. Gullberg’s equipment was found scattered around the glacier, including a camera with at least 20 photos of the climbers. Crews have looked over the photos for landmarks and other clues to the location of the two missing climbers - Anthony Vietti, 24, of Longview, Wash., and Katie Nolan, 29, of Portland.
