A 64-year-old man died Sunday morning after falling 500 feet while descending Mount Hood, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Patrick Michael Stretch of Spokane was climbing with his adult son when he fell at the 10,500-foot level on the Old Chute Route. Witnesses called 911 to report the fall about 9 a.m., deputies said.
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue (SAR) Coordinators set up a command post at Timberline Lodge and called in Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR), the Hood River Crag Rats, and American Medical Response’s Reach and Treat Team. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was notified and had aircraft on standby. Members of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol were also staged and ready to assist.
Deputies said a PMR member and a member of the Crag Rats happened to be recreating on Mount Hood when they learned of the accident. Two SAR volunteers immediately started making their way to the accident scene to assist with rescue efforts.
Rescue teams navigated what deputies said was a difficult terrain and hazards from hydrogen sulfide and other toxic gases venting from fumaroles along the route as they made their way to the accident scene.
They saw Stretch, who was unmoving, and made their way down to him by setting up rope systems, while also checking toxic-gas levels to ensure rescuers could safely reach him.
Upon reaching Stretch, rescuers found him deceased.
The mission then became a recovery mission. Teams loaded Stretch onto a skiable rescue litter basket, and at 4:20 p.m. they began making their way down the mountain to Timberline Lodge.
-- Tom Hallman Jr; thallman@oregonian.com; 503-221-8224; @thallmanjr
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