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Climbers rescued by helicopter from Mount Washington


 (Photo by: Lyn Topinka/U.S.Geological Survey)

Injured climber rescued from Mt. Washington
Wife also plucked from peak by Guard helicopter
From Bend.com news sources
Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2004 11:55 PM

August 21, 2004 - A Eugene man who fell and injured his ankle Saturday while climbing Mount Washington was rescued along with his wife by an Oregon National Guard helicopter crew and flown to a Salem hospital, officials said.

JM, 42, was at about 7,000 feet elevation, about 800 feet below the summit, when the accident occurred. His wife, LM., contacted the Linn County Sheriff’s Office about 11 a.m., said Sheriff Dave Burright.

Rescue teams from the Jefferson and Linn county sheriff’s offices responded to the scene, along with the Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit, the sheriff said. Meanwhile, a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from the Oregon National Guard’s 1042nd Medical Company was dispatched from Salem to assist in the rescue, at the request of Linn County officials.

JM was hoisted aboard the helicopter, as was his wife, rather than leave her alone on the peak until ground crews could reach her, National Guard officials said.

The original plan for the helicopter’s five-member crew was to take the pair to a waiting ambulance at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Salem. But an irregular pulse in JM’s foot prompted a change in plans and direct trip to Salem Memorial Hospital for treatment, officials said.

 

Note:
I have received a copy of the Final Report of the Linn County and Jefferson County Sheriff's Search and Rescue units. I have contacted the injured climber who was belayed and lowered down the rock face by his wife. They essentially self-rescued but required air evacuation due to the injury sustained in a short and fully belayed leader fall. They used a cell phone to alert friends of the accident. Look under Experiences for my Report to the American Alpine Club.

The circumstances differ from those reported for the Seyler-Smith accident three years ago, on the same volcanic West face below the summit of Mount Washington. Webmeister Speik  Read more:

 

 

 

Read more . . .
American Alpine Club
Oregon Section of the AAC
Accidents in North American Mountaineering

  SMITH ROCK
Smith Rock - AAC: Leader fall turns climber upside down
Smith Rock - AAC: Warning!! ** Belayer drops climber off the end of the top rope
Smith Rock - AAC: Fall on rock - protection pulled out
Smith Rock - AAC: WARNING - Belayer drops climber off the end of the top rope
Smith Rock - AAC: Inadequate top rope belay
Smith Rock - AAC: Climber injured on the approach
Smith Rock - AAC: WARNING - belayer drops climber off the end of the top rope
Smith Rock - AAC: Belay error - novice sport climber injured
Smith Rock - AAC: Fall on rock, protection pulled out
Smith Rock - AAC: Fall on rock - poor position, inadequate protection
Smith Rock - AAC: Pulled rock off - fall on rock, failure to test holds, exceeding abilities
Smith Rock - AAC: Belay error - fatal fall on rock

  MOUNT WASHINGTON
Mount Washington - AAC: Matt and Joanne, Accident on traditional North Ridge Route ends with helicopter rescue
Mount Washington - News: Matt and Joanne, News reports of their serious accident
Mount Washington - AAC: BC and JWS, Leader fall, good belay, self rescue and extraction by helicopter
Mount Washington - AAC: Seifert-Gentz, Report on fatal accident while setting rappel anchor
    Mount Washington - Rock and Ice, Double fatality on Mount Washington
Mount Washington - News: Seifert-Gentz, Oregon tragedy claims two lives
Mount Washington - News: JM, Injured climber rescued from Mount Washington
Mount Washington - AAC: Seyler-Smith, Leader fall, protection pulled out and anchor fails - Epic accident
    Playing Icarus on Mount Washington, an Epic story by Eric Seyler

  North Sister Experiences
North Sister accident claims another climber
North Sister and Middle Sister spring summits on telemark skis
North Sister, North Ridge by Sam Carpenter
North Sister, the Martina Testa Story, by Bob Speik
North Sister, SE Ridge solo by Sam Carpenter

  Oregon Cascades Photos
Middle and North Sister exploratory adventure   
North Sister and Middle Sister spring summits on telemark skis 
North Sister, Scott's solo summer summit  
North Sister exploratory
 
North Sister winter solo 
North Sister: crux photos of the Three Sisters Marathon 
North Sister images 

  Mountaineering Accidents in the News
Notable mountain climbing accidents Analyzed 
Mount Hood - climbing accident claims three lives -Final Report and our Analysis 
Young hiker suffers fatal fall and slide in the Three Sisters Wilderness
North Sister claims another climber
Solo climber Aron Ralston forced to amputate his own arm
Portland athlete lost on Mt. Hood
Broken Top remains confirmed as missing climber
Grisly find: hikers on Broken Top find apparent human remains
Once again, cell phone alerts rescuers of injured climber
Storm on Rainier proves fatal
Mountain calamity on Hood brings safety to the fore!
Fall into the Bergschrund on Mt. Hood, rescuers crash!
Paying the price for rescue
Accidents in North American Mountaineering