A hiker stranded on Mount Hood was rescued Sunday after becoming disoriented in worsening weather and ending up trapped above a waterfall in the lower Big Zig Zag Canyon.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the stranded hiker on the south side of Mount Hood on the evening of Saturday, September 5th. The hiker had started from Timberline Lodge earlier that day and climbed roughly 4,000 feet toward the upper mountain.
Hiker Became Stranded During Descent
While descending Mount Hood, the hiker veered off course as clouds moved in and visibility deteriorated. Heavy rain further complicated the descent, eventually leaving the hiker stranded at the top of a waterfall in the lower Big Zig Zag Canyon. The hiker was not injured but was reportedly very wet and cold and unable to safely navigate the complex terrain alone.
The Sheriff’s Office activated a search and rescue mission, with volunteers from Portland Mountain Rescue and Clackamas County Search and Rescue responding. Teams arrived at the Timberline Lodge command post at approximately 4am Sunday. Rescuers located and reached the stranded hiker around 9am.
Difficult Conditions Delayed Extraction
Although rescuers made contact with the hiker, the difficult terrain and severe mountain conditions prevented an immediate extraction.
Temperatures were near freezing, while heavy rain, snowfall, high winds and low visibility created additional hazards for the rescue teams. More personnel and equipment were needed before rescuers could safely move the hiker from the canyon.
Once additional resources arrived, teams escorted the hiker up the canyon and eventually guided them back toward Timberline Lodge. The rescue operation concluded at approximately 6:30pm Sunday, nearly 24 hours after the hiker first became stranded.
Rescue Teams Offer Mount Hood Safety Reminder
The complex operation involved the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Mountain Rescue, Clackamas County Search and Rescue, the Hood River Crag Rats and Mountain Wave.
Portland Mountain Rescue said the incident serves as a reminder of how easily hikers can become disoriented while descending Mount Hood, particularly during inclement weather. The organization recommends that backcountry travelers carry a GPS, compass and paper map and consult those navigation tools frequently when traveling through unfamiliar terrain.