Hikers Found After Spending Cold Night On Mount Hood

Mon., Dec. 25, 2000

From Staff

Two men who spent more than 24 hours on Mount Hood walked into Kiwanis Campground Sunday night apparently unharmed.

Search and rescue crews combed the mountain all day for Shawn Ahearn and Joseph Elton, who were reported missing Saturday night after failing to return to Timberline Lodge.

Bryan Read, 28, told authorities he accompanied his two friends to the Palmer Glacier area of Mount Hood Saturday morning, but turned back at about 9:30 a.m. because of severe weather conditions.

His companions chose to continue climbing, despite being inexperienced and lacking proper alpine gear, cell phones or walkie-talkies, said Det. Jim Strovink of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

The Civil Air Patrol joined in the search, as well as more than 25 volunteers who searched on foot from a base camp at Timberline Lodge.

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