Rescuers begin big Mount Hood push to find missing climbers

MOUNT HOOD, Ore. – Moving out before dawn, teams of expert
mountaineers began their largest assault yet on Mount Hood today in the
search for three missing climbers and were to be helped later in the
day by Blackhawk helicopters.

Climbing teams began moving up the north and south side of the
11,239-foot mountain from lodges at the 6,000-foot level. Their first
objective is to check for avalanche dangers, said Sgt. Gerry Tiffany,
with the Hood River County Sheriff's office.