Mt. Hood Climbers Alive & Well

Search teams Monday morning reached three climbers stranded on Mt. Hood in white-out conditions.

"... Search teams on the mountain have located and are with the three missing climbers at this time. This early report indicates all is well with these rescued climbers and these rescue personnel will be assisting the three patients off the mountain as soon as possible," said Jim Strovink, spokesman for the sheriff's office.

The three climbers – two women, a man, and a Labrador – are able to maintain contact with rescue officials with a cell phone. The climbers also have at least one mountain locator unit with them to assist rescuers.

Mountain locator units or Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) are lightweight devices that attach to clothing and emit a signal which can help rescuers pinpoint the location of missing or stranded climbers. When activated, the beacons send out a distress signal that allows the beacon to be located by the satellite system. The devices can transmit GPS coordinates in the emergency satellite transmission.

11:45 AM Update The Clackamas County Sheriff's Search and Rescue personnel indicate the 3 climbers are being warmed with hot liquids and dry clothing.

When this warming and hydrating session is complete; the attending rescue personnel will assist the climbers down the mountain. It is anticipated this return will require about three addtional hours to complete the rescue.