A hiker's step to the side on Oregon's Mount Hood turned into a rare, high-stakes mountain rescue involving surgeons flown to the snow line. Officials say the man—whose name and age haven't been released—was about a mile up the mountain, near Timberline Lodge, on Sunday when he moved off the trail to let others pass, entered a field of loose rocks, and set off a small rockslide, per Outside. A boulder estimated to be 16,000 pounds tumbled about 15 feet and landed on him, pinning him from the waist down as fellow hikers tried and failed to move the giant rock, per Clackamas Fire.
Nine teams spent roughly two hours freeing the climber, building a system of wedges and pulleys to lift and stabilize the boulder, according to Clackamas Fire's Technical Rescue Team. With the patient conscious but at risk of severe injury, Oregon Health and Science University assembled surgeons and field equipment and loaded them onto a Life Flight helicopter—an unusually advanced response for a mountainside rescue. The man was airlifted to a hospital and is expected to fully recover, officials say.
"This incident highlights the importance of strong interagency coordination and the specialized rescue capabilities required for emergencies in the Mount Hood recreation area," the Hoodland Fire District said in a statement, per the Oregonian. Rescuers later urged outdoor enthusiasts to hike with others, stay on marked trails when they can, and match outings to their skill level, per Outside.
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