Father and sons lost climbing South Sister in Labor Day storm

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Father and sons rescued climbing South Sister in storm on Labor Day

Rescuers looking for three lost near South Sister
Posted: Aug 31, 2008 11:58 PM PDT
From KTVZ.COM news sources
Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue crews worked late in the night Sunday to find and assist three people near the South Sister who apparently lost their way - and also reported some late-August snowfall.

Dispatchers said the three people were on their way down when it began to snow and they apparently lost their way.

At last report, SAR crews said they believed they were close to the missing trio. We'll have more details as they become available.

The rescue effort came amid cold temperatures for this time of year. The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for Central Oregon through 8 a.m. Monday.

Redmond plunged to a record 29 degrees early Sunday, smashing its old record low for Aug. 31 of 32, set back in 1964.

http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=8930865

Said they were heading back down when snow began to fall
By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM
A late-August snowfall almost proved tragic, but a cell phone was a godsend for three hikers who became lost on the South Sister Trail Sunday evening. It took searchers nearly eight hours to find the three - wet, cold and tired, but otherwise alright, officials said.

Deschutes County 911 got a call shortly before 7 p.m. from the hikers, seeking assistance, said sheriff's Sgt. Scott Shelton.

The caller said they were trying to return to the Green Lakes trailhead in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area when they became unsure of their location, Shelton said. The caller also said they were at about 8,600 feet in elevation, and that the weather had changed, and it was now snowing.

"The hikers also had limited cell phone contact, as the phone they were carrying was losing battery power," Shelton wrote in a news release Monday.

A U.S. Forest Service employee in the general area began the search before Sheriff's Search and Rescue teams mobilized, Shelton said. That Forest Service worker eventually found the hiker.

Sheriff's deputies and nine initial SAR searchers responded to the area, Shelton said, adding that deputies had intermittent phone contact with the hikers throughout the night, until their cell pone finally ran out of battery power.

The hikers were located around 2:30 a.m., between the Lewis and Clark glaciers at about 9,050 feet in elevation, Shelton said. They "were wet, cold and tired, with no apparent injuries," Shelton said - but their location sparked some concern, due to nearby unstable ground and cliffs.

The rescuers provided warm, dry clothing, shelter and food to the stranded hikers, the sergeant said. Once stabilized, they were assisted down the trail, to the area of Moraine Lake, where they were met by members of the SAR horse team.

By late morning, they were being escorted the rest of the way down the trail, to the Devils Lake trailhead, Shelton said, adding that 17 SAR members had been involved in the operation.

The rescue effort came amid very cold temperatures for this time of year. The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for Central Oregon through 8 a.m. Monday.

Redmond plunged to a record 29 degrees early Sunday, smashing its old record low for Aug. 31 of 32, set back in 1964.

http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=8930865

Trail Tips for September 10, 2008 by Chris Sabo, Trails/Wilderness, Deschutes National Forest
"Just a reminder for this time of year, the weather can change in short order as plenty of trail users found out over Labor Day weekend. Well over 100 South Sister hikers found out just how fast as the morning of Aug. 31 started out cool but sunny and ended up with snow, winds and low visibility developing at higher and even some mid elevations. Snow flurries were reported that evening down to 5,400’. Most South Sister hikers opted on the side of safety and turned around before reaching the summit, but a few did persist. The earlier hikers made the summit before visibility dropped with snow starting falling about 1 pm. Most hikers bailing after the snow started were not prepared for the conditions".

"Three hikers chose to continue to the summit late in the afternoon in degrading conditions; they too were not prepared for snow/wet/windy conditions. On reaching the summit at about 5 pm in near zero visibility, they become disoriented and were unable to locate the trail they had just climbed. The trio came off the top somewhere to the west of the trail and soon realized they were lost. About 2:30 am (8 hours after calling in on a cell phone that ultimately lost battery life) a Deschutes County Sheriff Search and Rescue team and Forest Service located the hikers who were wet, cold, lost and stuck at the base of a cliff. In the end, they were warmed, recovered and were led out by rescuers after sunrise. The situation could have been quite different had one or two of the hikers taken a fall and been injured or killed, stumbling around in the dark with snow flurries. Fortunately for them, where they were stopped by a cliff was also a good bivy spot mostly out of the weather. Had they spent much more time wandering in the cold and dark, advanced hypothermia and frostbite likely would have been the price they paid. Again, these hikers were not fully prepared for the conditions, hiking in mostly cotton clothing and light weather gear and pushing the conditions".

"These recent accidents are a reminder to all trail users, whether by foot, paddle, peddle or hoof, to take extra care in being prepared for expected and unexpected conditions. If the trail or water you are using is unfamiliar to you, seek out the conditions and what you’re up against and if it’s even doable. Also remember to keep your limits and the limits of others in your group in mind. This time of year the days are getting shorter and nights colder; adverse weather, even snow, can be come in with little warning. Think about if you were forced to spend a night out with freezing temperatures, do you have the gear and knowledge on any given trip? Did you remember to file a “flight plan” with a friend or family member and what they should do should you not return on time? What if you or someone in your party are injured or fall ill, can you handle it? Cell phones and other high tech communication devices are helpful and even life savers, when they work and you have reception. If they fail, are you prepared? Search and Rescue teams work hard to reach those in need in a timely manner. But, they may take several hours or more to organize and access many remote (even some close in) locations. If directions are fuzzy or not known, weather poor, it could be a day or several before locating those in need. Again, in some instances be prepared to spend a night out".
--Chris Sabo

What can be learned from this Rescue?

Webmeister's Note- So you thought our Prospectus suggestions for climbing South Sister were "overkill"?
The lessons learned from this experience are:
1. Always take your cell phone, fully charged. (Leave it turned off if you really know where you are, if not, leave it turned on because the cell company may be able to track you from cell tower pings - Read More.)
2. A GPS will not help if you do not know how to use it, and if you do not have a USGS or equal topo map of your adventure. These folks did not mention a map, but said they had a compass and a GPS but apparently did not know how to use them.
3. If you leave a mountain top a few degrees off of the ridge you used to ascend, you may be miles off at the bottom of the mountain. Always mark your entre/exit to the summit plateau.
4. Never wear cotton clothing on a long hike or climb - it gets wet and sucks heat from your body at a rate some 20 times that of bare skin alone. Note: The father of the two sons with him on this mis-adventure said they were wearing cotton clothing and that they got very cold in the blowing snow at 2:30 AM. He said they had a compass and a GPS but did not mention a map or the skills to use them together.
5. If you are not prepared with the seasonal Ten Essential Systems, give up the summit and return another day. The summit will always be there to enjoy during your life- time.

Read our "Media Advisory below!

Our thanks to Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM, for featuring this story. Barney has noted the use of cell phones to resolve accidents in our backcountry for several years. Please let him know you appreciate his responsible journalism!

Recent Federal secrecy and privacy guidelines (HIPPA) prevent any persons who may be a "care giver" from giving out even the most basic information to the public, including the traditional names and home towns of the patients, what happened and what injuries they sustained. We called Redmond Fire Department about another rock climbing accident at Smith Rock and we were told by the "Public Information Officer" that we could have only the information that Redmond Fire and Rescue had picked up a patient at Smith and transported that patient to the hospital in Redmond. (We did find the contact information for the "patient" (the accident victim) and we will pass along a good bit of basic Smith Rock climbing experience in a few days on this website.)
--Webmeister Speik

A suggested minimum standard Media Advisory for all backcountry travelers

"We would like to take this opportunity to ask our visitors to the backcountry of Eastern Oregon to plan for the unexpected. Each person should dress for the forecast weather and take minimum extra clothing protection from a drop in temperature and possible rain or snow storm or an unexpected cold wet night out, insulation from the wet ground or snow, high carbohydrate snacks, two quarts of water, a map and compass and optional inexpensive GPS and the skills to use them, and a charged cell phone turned on and perhaps an inexpensive walkie-talkie radio to contact companions. Carry the traditional personal "Ten Essentials" in a light weight day pack sized for the season and the forecast weather.

Visitors are reminded to tell a Responsible Person where they are going, where they plan to park, when they will be back and to make sure that person understands that they are relied upon to call 911 at a certain time if the backcountry traveler has not returned"

THE MISSION of TraditionalMountaineering.org

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Why is the GSM digital cell phone best for backcountry and mountaineering?
What does Steve House wear for light and fast climbing?
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What do you carry in your winter day pack? Photos?
Which digital camera do you use in the mountains?
What about Boots and Shoes?

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What is the best traditional alpine mountaineering summit pack?
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Is running the Western States 100 part of "traditional mountaineering"?
What's wrong with GORP? Answers to the quiz!
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What about carbo-ration and fluid replacement during traditional alpine climbing? 4 pages in pdf
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FREE Clinic on Real Survival Strategies and Staying Found with Map, Compass and GPS together
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Why are "Snow Caves" dangerous?
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Missing climbers on Mount Hood, one dies of exposure, two believed killed in fall
Missing California family found, dad dies from exposure and hypothermia
Missing man survives two weeks trapped in snow-covered car
Missing snowmobile riders found, Roger Rouse dies from hypothermia
Olympic Champion Rulon Gardner lost on snowmobile!
Lost Olympic hockey player looses feet to cold injury
Expert skier lost five days near resort in North Cascades without map, compass, gps or cell phone
Mount Hood - The Episcopal School Tragedy
Mount Hood - experienced climbers rescued from snow cave
How can you learn the skills of snow camping? Prospectus

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What is the Public Land Survey Grid? pdf
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How do you use your map, compass and GPS together, in a nut shell?
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Do you have map, compass and GPS seminar notes? six pdf pages

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Winter mountaineering hazards - streams and lakes
Is long distance backpacking part of "traditional mountaineering"?
How long is the traditional alpine mountaineering ice axe?
What about climbing Mt. Hood?
What is a good personal description of the south side route on Mount Hood?
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What is the best traditional alpine mountaineering summit pack?
What is the best belay | rappel | autoblock device for traditional alpine mountaineering?
What gear do you normally rack on your traditional alpine mountaineering harness? Photos?
What is the best traditional alpine mountaineering seat harness? Photos?
Can I use a Sharpie Pen for Marking the Middle of the Climbing Rope?
What are the highest peaks in Oregon? Alphabetically?