Stranded Climbers Rescued from Oregon's Highest Mountain

Emergency Workers Reach Stranded Trio of Climbers and Dog, Who Survived a Snowy Night Stranded at 7,400 Feet

Emergency workers successfully reached a trio of mountain climbers who were stranded on Oregon's Mount Hood. The climbers, two women and a man, were in their 30s and traveling with their dog, a black laborador named "Velvet." The rescue teams fought blowing snow and winds reaching up to 70 mph as they climbed the mountain in search of the stranded climbers, attempting to determine the location of the climbers by cell phone. This afternoon, emergency workers reached the stranded trio, and supplied them with hot food and warm clothing to fortify them for the trip down the mountain.

Authorities said that all three climbers and the canine were in overall good health despite having spent the night huddled together in the snow and ice at an elevation of 7,400 feet. Clackamas County Detective described them as "wet, shivering and cold," but Sgt. Collinson of the Clackamas County Sherrif's office claimed the party "were in fairly good spirits."

Mount Hood is Oregon's highest mountain, with the peak at an elevation of 11,239 feet. It is one of the most frequently climbed mountains in the world. In the past 25 years, over 35 climbers have died on Mount Hood, many due to exposure after becoming stranded. In December, three climbers disappeared on the mountain and were never found.

Spokespeople from the Sherrif's Office told the press that today's successful rescue was due in large part to the fact that the stranded climbers "did everything right" by contacting authorities as soon as the party ran into trouble, huddling together for warmth during the night, and using a mountain location unit, a high-tech navigation device that helped rescue workers track the party's whereabouts during the rescue.