2 injured climbers rescued

Photo: Contributed

An Oregon National Guard helicopter has airlifted two climbers off Mount Hood after the two were injured in a fall, rescue officials said.

The two climbers, a male and a female, are being taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center for treatment, American Medical Response in Portland said.

The climbers were injured after they fell early Saturday near an area on the mountain known as the Hogsback, according to the Clackamas County sheriff's office. A call for help was received just before 11 a.m., Deputy Ben Frazier said.

The male climber might have a broken femur, while the female climber has two broken ankles, Frazier said.

A third climber, another male who was also with them, was able to make it down the mountain with help.

The climbers were on the popular south-side climbing route. Frazier said he did not know what caused them to fall. Weather conditions near the mountain were good Saturday: clear skies and sun. Hogsback is a snow ridge at about 10,000 feet elevation.

Members of Portland Mountain Rescue, a volunteer search and rescue group, and American Medical Response reached the injured climbers earlier in the day and helped stabilize them.

Rescuers and paramedics relocated the injured climbers to a nearby area that's easier to reach by helicopter, which plucked both climbers off the mountain with the rotors still turning, American Medical Response said.

The sheriff's office says the names of the climbers will not be released at this time.