Climbing experts: Be prepared if climbing Hood - KPTV - FOX 12
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Two accidents in one week - on Thursday, a second climber was hurt after climbing Mount Hood and falling nearly 500 feet.
The climber is in serious condition at Legacy Emanuel, but this accident comes just a week to the day after an expert climber was killed while descending the same part of the mountain.
In both cases, officials told us conditions were good on the mountain for climbing.
They said each of these accidents happened on the south side of the mountain in an area known as Hogsback.
It's a challenge thousands choose to accomplish every year and for the most part those climbers never have any major problems.
To climb the mountain, experts said, you have to respect it and understand it.
"Unfortunately we get people that don't really understand how technical it is and sometimes that leads to a rescue," said Steve Rollins with Portland Mountain Rescue.
On Thursday morning Gary Morgan, 52, of Clarkston, MI was climbing Mount Hood on his own.
Officials said it was his first time climbing the mountain and during that climb something went wrong.
Just before he fell, climbers in the area reported the snow was getting soft and slippery.
"We get down to the Hogsback and next thing we know we hear 'falling!' and this guy was falling from the summit, about 500 feet and we saw him go right into this crevasse," said Mike Claypool who was climbing in the area of the accident.
Morgan suffered serious injuries in the fall, but he survived.
That wasn't the case for expert climber Mark Cartier who died after falling nearly 1,000 feet near the exact same spot last week.
Rollins said conditions on the mountain can change very quickly.
"They do vary hour to hour, day by day," Rollins said. "Some of the things you want to look for on a broad scale: Do you have good experience, do you have good equipment and do you have good judgment?"
He said one of the biggest mistakes people make is not being prepared and not understanding what the mountain has to offer.
"By way of example: A brand new climber with top-end gear is still likely to get into an accident as well as a world-class mountaineer with rotten gear can get into an accident," Rollins said.
Experts said climbers need have a good pair of mountaineer boots and crampons to walk on the ice, as well as some rope, a helmet to protect from falling debris and an ice axe in case you slip and fall.
"We're really trying to get the word out that this is not a hike it's a technical climb," Rollins said.
Experts also suggested you become familiar with all that equipment so you know how to use it and let others know where you're going and when you plan to be back.
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