An Arizona man who plummeted 700 feet down the slopes of Mount Hood was critically injured in the weekend fall, authorities said Tuesday.
Chris Zwierzynski, 55, was ascending the southern face of Mount Hood along Old Chute, a steep approach to the summit, when he lost his footing on frozen snow around 7:45 a.m. Saturday and tumbled about 700 feet, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Two off-duty military medics scrambled down to assist Zwierzynski, Clackamas County sheriff’s officials said. Two Mount Hood National Forest rangers were also nearby and provided first aid.
[WATCH: Climber tumbles 700 feet on Mount Hood and rescued via helicopter]
Clear skies allowed a helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard to land on Hogsback, a lower elevation on the southern side of Mount Hood, and rescue Zwierzynski about six hours after his fall. Officials described the tricky maneuver as a “hot landing.”
Zwierzynski was taken to a Portland hospital for treatment. He suffered unspecified critical injuries, according to the sheriff’s office. They didn’t immediately respond to questions regarding his current condition.
—Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.
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