While the rescue operation was being executed in Thailand, another one was carried out in the United States where six climbers from the Army National Guard saved a man. The man was reportedly trapped on the peak of Oregon’s Mount Hood. The team rescued him and descended from the mountain using a Chinook helicopter. The man caught on the ridge called the emergency services after climbing the mountain to commit suicide. However, he reconsidered his decision and requested a rescue.
Six rescuers ascended from the mountain to locate the climber and bring him down. Once they found him on the peak, they found out that their way back was already blocked. During the summer season on Mount Hood, the ice, and glaciers near the peak become unstable and often melt. As a result, it can collapse anytime without any warning. It becomes very dangerous for people to climb these surfaces during these times. Therefore, the rescuers requested an airlift for the evacuation.
The method of evacuation via airlift also has its risks. In 2002, during a similar rescue, a Black Hawk helicopter crashed while rescuing climbers from Mount Hood. The altitude of this peak is very high for most helicopters to operate there efficiently. In this case, the rescuers relied on the tandem-rotor Chinook for the rescue operation. It also came with risks since there was no horizontal place on the mountain peak to touch down. The crew had to perform ‘pinnacle landing’ which is touching down with only the rear two wheels while the front of the helicopter stays in the air. The helicopter had to maintain this position for several minutes while the rescuers and the victim climbed into the helicopter. Luckily, the operation was successful, and everyone reached the ground safe and sound.
