Milwaukie man survives 500-foot fall on Mount Hood

The 54-year-old man is recovering with face, arm and leg injuries

The Clackamas Review, May 17, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

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“Here’s a man that has fallen 500 feet, he has severe facial injuries, was rendered unconscious for a considerable amount of time, and then by the time they packaged him up and get him down the hill, he was conversing with rescue personnel, he was of sound mind and was able to converse with them and he had a good humor.”

Strovink said he didn’t know what caused the fall. But he said the warm weather was causing hazardous conditions, which caused a Portland woman to fall the day before.

“I think this time of the year, as the mountaineers have told me, when you have this warmer weather it is susceptible to falling ice,” Strovink said. “With respect to Saturday, I understand it was cascading ice the size of grapefruits that hit the climber on Saturday.”

Jessica M. Deans, 34, had been climbing near Crater Rock when she fell. Her leg injuries were non-life threatening.

Strovink said the sheriff’s office conducts about 150 search and rescues a year, which includes rescues on the rivers or in the urban area when someone goes missing. But he said the sheriff’s office couldn’t do it without the help of other organizations.

“The mountain draws a lot of attention because it’s a beacon,” he said. “We’ve drawn these rescuers and we synchronize the whole mission and we summon these guys who have this expertise. These mountaineers have the ability to climb and navigate and they have the medical expertise. So we have a host, a legion of experts that are volunteers that are summoned by the sheriff's office that then come and take command of these rescue missions.

Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Mountain Wave Communications, American Medical Response, the Reach & Treat Team, Mount Hood Ski Patrol, Portland Mountain Rescue and Oregon Army Air National Guard participated in the rescues.

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Reader comments

Re: Milwaukie man survives 500-foot fall on Mount Hood

First, I sure hope his recovery is quick and complete.

My prayers are with him and his family.

But then I have to ask a few questions. How much did risky behavior cost the tax payers this time? And why shouldn't thrill seeking risk takers pay for thier own rescue? Or shouldn't they at least buy insurance to cover them selves, just in case. The claim that if they have to pay their own way they won't call for help is NOT TRUE. It's been prooven in other states that they still call for help. In this ecconomy it's high time that thrill seeking risk takers pay for their own rescue, not the tax payers. Sorry folks, but it's time the party is over.