Missing On Oregon's Mt. Hood

Sam Barlow, a determined Kentuckian, brought his wife and four children to Illinois where they became part of the migration to Oregon. He was the first man, with his team, to climb Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood is the fourth largest peak in the Cascade Range and the tallest mountain in Oregon, at 11, 239 feet. The mountain boasts twelve glaciers and is known as a stratovolcana. At the present time Mt. Hood is considered dormant, unlike its sister mountain, Mt. St. Helen's whose massive eruption on Sunday morning, May 18th, 1980, covered both states in ash.

Mt Hood is a big draw for climbers and winter enthusiasts, with over 4600 acres of ski able terrain. Popular spots include Timberline, Mt. Hood Meadows, Ski Bowl, Cooper Spur, Snow Bunny and Summit. Also on the mountain is Timberline Lodge, an historic monument that draws thousands of visitors each year. The monument is just below the Palmer Glacier.

On December 18th, 2007 a group of three men went climbing on the mountain. They were climbing around the area known as "the gullies", where there is a sixty-foot slope and a major drop of 2,550 feet. Kelly James, Brian Hall and Jerry Cook perished on the mountain despite heroic measures by the Mt. Hood Search and Rescue team and local officials.

There are climbers missing today on the mountain, but it is quite certain they will be rescued, as they wore electronic devices that are available at the lodge. It is a hot topic on whether the devices should be mandatory for those skiing and climbing the mountain. For a nominal price climbers can obtain the beeper and save their life.

Any mountain is dangerous to folks who are not aware of survival techniques - and those who are. At some points the wind gusts at ninety-miles per hour, erasing tracks or landmarks. Getting into a snow cave and conserving body temperature is essential. In the case of Kelly James, who was injured, he was alone in a cave while his companions went for help. It is not know what may have happened to them. There were signs on the snow that they had tried to lash themselves to the slopes.

A tragic death for a California tourist, stranded in his car with his wife and daughters adds emphasis to the readiness question. If you don't know where you are or the terrain is rough, it is best to stay with the car or group until you are found.

A day on Mt. Hood is a real treat. There is much to do and much to see. Just use caution in areas where you may be isolated from others. If you plan to climb the Mt. Hood, obtain an electronic device so you don't end up a sad statistic that might have been avoided.