Hood

We had quite a climb, it was Katie's first summit of Hood, congrats!

We left the climber's hut about 12:15, making fine time up to the crater, where we were met with no crowds. Weekdays are the way to go on Hood! Conditions were clear, chilly, breezy and a little icy. We made our way up the right gate, then to the summit which we had to ourselves. On the way down is when the climb got complicated.

We were on the hogsback when we witnessed a climber from another group fall from the pearly gates, and unable to self arrest he stopped just above the devils kitchen where the incline levels out. Andy was the first to the scene, putting his wilderness first responder class to work. He and Julio spent the next 6 or so hours monitoring and waiting with the patient until SAR arrived, by which time conditions had deteriorated into a whiteout. They walked down with some of the SAR team, Katie having gone down earlier, and all were happy to be down safely.

We all learned a lot, will be better prepared in the future, and are resolved to make sure the club offers some wilderness first aid clinics so everyone can be prepared for such an eventuality.