Climber spends night on steep mountain after losing GPS during whiteout, OR rescuers say
A 45-year-old climber got lost after he dropped his GPS during a whiteout on a frigid mountain, Oregon rescuers said.
The man from Mexico had reached the top of Mount Hood by sunrise on Feb. 4, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
He summited “under good climbing conditions.”
But as he made his way back, the weather changed and strong winds caused a whiteout. He couldn’t see more than 20 feet ahead of him or see the trail back to the lodge, rescuers said.
He pulled out his GPS to help navigate him.
Climber navigates mountain without GPS
The strong winds knocked the GPS out of his hands, forcing him to trek directionless for several hours.
“Unfortunately, without GPS, he veered too far to the west — dropping into the upper reaches of the Zigzag River Canyon,” deputies said.
He followed a river down the canyon and crossed over a trail that was unrecognizable due to the snow.
When the sun started to set, and he realized he couldn’t find his way back on his own, he called 911, rescuers said. He hunkered down and spent the night on the mountain.
Rescuers began hiking from the lodge at about 1 a.m. Feb. 5 when the temperature was 25 degrees and wind gusts were over 50 mph.
“After traveling nearly five miles in difficult cross-country conditions over steep, ice-covered slopes, searchers spotted the climber’s headlamp, reaching him about 4 a.m.,” rescuers said.
The man was exhausted from spending over 24 hours on the mountain.
Rescuers said they led him back to a camp by 10 a.m.
Mount Hood is about 70 miles southeast of Portland. It’s an active volcano that’s over 11,240 feet.
What to do if you get lost
If you think you’re getting lost, experts say it’s best to stop where you are and not panic. You should go over how you got to that point and if you’re able to see any landmarks around.
“Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step,” officials with the U.S. Forest Service said.
You should come up with a plan but stay put unless you are “very, very confident in the route.”
There are steps people can take to avoid getting lost and be better prepared for the unexpected:
Have more than enough food and water with you.
Take a compass that you know how to use, or have a GPS device on hand.
Don’t rely solely on your cellphone. It probably won’t work because of a lack of signal or a depleted battery.
Study the terrain and your route, and you should know how you’ll return.
Have the right clothing. Sturdy hiking boots and layers can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather.
Pack a blanket, flashlight and matches.
Check with a local ranger for special warnings. They can tell you about “fires in the area, bear sightings, flooding, trail or road closures.”
This story was originally published February 8, 2024 at 12:30 PM with the headline "Climber spends night on steep mountain after losing GPS during whiteout, OR rescuers say."
