Climber Survives Fall on Oregon's Mount Hood - East Idaho News
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Climber Survives Fall on Oregon’s Mount Hood

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GETTY N 062212 MountHood?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1340355022095iStockphoto/Thinkstock(PORTLAND, Ore.) — Just a week after climber Mark Cartier, 56, fell 1,000 feet to his death, another climber has fallen down an icy slope in the Hogsback area of Oregon’s Mount Hood.

Fortunately this time, the climber, identified by Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office as Gary Morgan, 52, survived.

Morgan fell 400 to 500 feet while climbing alone on the Hogsback area Thursday morning, ABC News affiliate KATU reported — the same area Cartier had been climbing.  Several rescue groups immediately began efforts to reach and transport Morgan after Clackamas County dispatchers received a 911 call just before 9:30 a.m.  

Morgan suffered a serious injury to his hip and leg, Sgt. Adam Phillips with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said.

KATU reported two witnesses saw Morgan sliding down the mountain.

“He fell right into this crevasse area…. He had no ice axe or crampons,” witness Mike Claypool told KATU.

“You could just see the horror in his face,” added witness Paul Christian.

Morgan was able to stop his descent when he hit ice on the opposite side of the crevasse.  Rescuers were able to reach him and transport him down the mountain. 

He was taken to a hospital in the late afternoon, KATU reports.

Copyright 2012 ABC News radio

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