On Friday afternoon a 34‑year‑old man from Bend called 911 after becoming stranded on the east‑facing ridge above the crater of Broken Top, a 9,200‑foot peak in the Deschutes National Forest. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jason Carr said the climber was familiar with the area but faced dramatically different conditions, including a lack of snow and unstable, crumbly rock, for which he was not equipped.
Rescue teams mobilize
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue immediately dispatched four experienced Mountain Rescue Unit (MRU) members. Because of the technical terrain, the Army National Guard was also asked to provide a helicopter hoist. The high altitude and fading daylight prevented a hoist that evening, but the Guard promised to be ready at first light.
At 6:20 p.m. two MRU members were flown by an AirLink helicopter to a landing zone on the northwest ridge of Broken Top. A second pair arrived at 7:04 p.m., and the four rescuers formed two climbing teams that eventually merged onto a single route. They faced extremely loose rock, steep cliffs, cold temperatures and darkness, which slowed progress.
Climber reached and secured
In the early hours of Saturday, at 2:13 a.m., the rescuers finally reached the stranded climber. They secured him with proper climbing equipment and began the ascent back toward the summit using the same route they had established.
By 6:30 a.m. the team and the climber arrived at the summit. The Army National Guard’s helicopter then hoisted the man and two rescuers to the West Village parking lot at Mt. Bachelor, where Bend Fire & Rescue medics were standing by. The remaining two rescuers were lifted from the summit at 10:02 a.m.
No injuries reported
All participants, including the climber, were evaluated by medics and required no medical treatment. Carr expressed gratitude to the volunteer Search & Rescue members, AirLink, and the Army National Guard for their coordinated effort.
This successful operation underscores the dedication of local first‑responders and the importance of proper equipment and preparation when venturing into Central Oregon’s high‑altitude terrain.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
