Lost climber spends nearly 24 hours on mountain peak in bad weather, Oregon cops say

A lost climber had to hunker down for nearly 24 hours on a cold mountain peak in Oregon, deputies said.

Rescuers responded to a call about the climber at 4:02 p.m. Sept. 14 on South Sister, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter was contacted but couldn’t respond to the climber that day because of the weather and the time, deputies said.

An Airlink helicopter tried to fly rescuers to the summit, but fog prevented them from doing so.

The next day, a team of nine rescuers hiked up the mountain and reached the climber by 6 a.m., deputies said. They fed the climber and warmed them up in the bad weather as they waited for the National Guard helicopter.

Deputies said weather conditions, including sleet, kept the helicopter from reaching them, however.

More search teams climbed up the mountain as rescuers made further attempts to get to the area by helicopter, deputies said.

By 3 p.m. on Sept. 15, the rescue team decided to hike down the mountain with the lost climber because the weather had worsened and the snow wasn’t stopping, deputies said.

With rescuers’ help, the climber safely made it off the mountain, deputies said.

South Sister is the third-tallest mountain in Oregon , standing 10,358 feet tall. The hike is steep and rugged.

The mountain is west of Bend.

What to do if you get lost while hiking

If you think you’re getting lost , experts say it’s best to stop where you are and not panic. You should go over how you got to that point and if you’re able to see any landmarks around.

“Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step,” officials with the U.S. Forest Service said.

You should come up with a plan but stay put unless you are “very, very confident in the route.”

There are steps hikers can take to avoid getting lost and be better prepared for the unexpected:

• Have more than enough food and water with you.

• Take a compass that you know how to use, or have a GPS device on hand.

• Don’t rely solely on your cell phone. It probably won’t work because of a lack of signal or a depleted battery.

• Study the terrain and your route, and you should know how you’ll return.

• Have the right clothing. Sturdy hiking boots and layers can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather.

• Pack a blanket, flashlight and matches.

• Check with a local ranger for special warnings. They can tell you about “fires in the area, bear sightings, flooding, trail or road closures.”

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