Storm puts halt to search for Ore. climbers

December 15, 2009|Associated Press

GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. - A military helicopter searched upper elevations of Mount Hood yesterday, as rescuers held hope that two experienced climbers would be found alive after a third member of their party was discovered dead over the weekend.

Search teams worked against time, with a new storm expected to hit Oregon’s highest peak overnight. But the search ended for the day as darkness fell and the storm approached.

Taking advantage of a brief break in the weather, a Black Hawk helicopter operated by the Oregon Army National Guard searched for signs of life or debris. Ground teams started up the mountain but remained at lower elevations because of avalanche dangers.

Mountaineers found the body of Luke T. Gullberg, 26, of Des Moines, Wash., on Saturday at the 9,000-foot level on Reid Glacier.

Officials were examining photos from Gullberg’s camera for possible clues about the location of his companions.

Authorities have not released details on the photos. But Teri Preiss, an aunt of missing climber Anthony Vietti, said the photos suggest the trio had changed their route up the mountain to avoid one that looked too dangerous.

Bad weather has frustrated ground teams and aircraft searching high elevations for Vietti, 24, of Longview, Wash., and Katie Nolan, 29, of Portland, missing since Friday.

Preiss believes her nephew and Nolan were strong enough to survive somewhere on the 11,249-foot mountain.

Steve Rollins, a search leader, said the climbers were known to have ice axes that could be used to hack out a snow cave. Officials previously said the climbers did not have shovels.

Relatives of all three climbers were waiting at Timberline Lodge, a ski resort on the flank of Mount Hood and a search staging area.