Chapters
Shownotes Transcript
This episode of Against the Odds contains depictions of suffering and death that some listeners may find disturbing. Please be advised.
Ralph Summers looks out the scuffed window of a military helicopter as it hovers over the south side of Mount Hood. He scans the snow-covered slopes below him, hoping to find some familiar landmarks. But all he can see is an endless blanket of white. Summers smacks the side of his face a couple times to wake himself up. He hasn't slept in over 36 hours. But he has to keep his fatigue at bay.
The search and rescue workers riding in the helicopter with Summers are counting on him. He needs to find the rest of his climbing party before they freeze to death on the side of this mountain.
Those 11 climbers are sheltered inside a tiny snow cave somewhere on the slopes below. Nine of the climbers are teenagers from Oregon Episcopal School. Summers was hired as a climbing consultant to help guide the group to the top of the mountain. He assumed the climb would be straightforward. But near the summit, they were suddenly caught in a vicious blizzard. Summers dug the snow cave so they could take refuge from the elements.
That was at 8.30 p.m. last night, almost 20 hours ago. This morning, Summers and a student named Molly Shula hiked down the mountain to find help. They risked their lives fighting through the storm. Now, Summers has joined the rescuers, hopeful he can retrace his steps and lead them back to the snow cave.
When they lifted off a few minutes ago, Summers was certain he could figure out the route back to the cave. Now, he's not so sure. In the seven hours since he and Molly climbed down, the storm hasn't let up, and heavy snowfall has rendered the terrain unrecognizable. He braces himself as the helicopter lurches in the wind. Over his headset, Summers hears the pilot's voice. Sorry about that, folks. These gusts are tossing us around a little.
How are you doing back there, Ralph? See anything yet? Not yet. Summers sees that it's 3:50 p.m. If they can't find the cave before sundown, the missing climbers will probably have to spend a second night stranded on the mountain. Summers peers down and sees ice-covered rocks emerging from the white landscape. He sees a vaguely familiar grouping of boulders.
He's just about to tell the pilot to hover over them when thick clouds suddenly roll in, obscuring his view. He calls out over his headset. "I can't see! Yeah, we've lost visibility. If we stay out here any longer in this, we could fly right into the side of the mountain. We've got to head back to base." The helicopter starts to descend as Summers grits his teeth in frustration.
He knows that until this storm lets up, there's no way he'll be able to help them find the snow cave. And if they can't reach those missing climbers soon, some of them might not make it off the mountain alive. In our fast-paced, screen-filled world, it can be all too easy to lose that sense of imagination and wonder.
If you're looking for new ways to ignite your creativity and open your mind to fresh perspectives, then let Audible be your guide. Whether you listen to stories, motivation, or any genre you love, you can be inspired to imagine new worlds, new possibilities, and new ways of thinking.
There's more to imagine when you listen. Plus, as an Audible member, you'll get one title a month to keep from their entire catalog. If you're into mythology, then I recommend the title Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. He's an amazing storyteller that narrates this unique version of the Norse myths.
Listen along. New members can try Audible free for 30 days. Visit audible.com slash the odds or text the odds to 500-500. That's audible.com slash the odds or text the odds to 500-500. Against the Odds is brought to you by Progressive Insurance.
What if comparing car insurance rates was as easy as putting on your favorite podcast? With Progressive, it is. Just visit the Progressive website to quote with all the coverages you want. You'll see Progressive's direct rate. Then their tool will provide options from other companies so you can compare. All you need to do is choose the rate and coverage you'd like. Quote today at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive.
Progressive Casualty Insurance Company & Affiliates. Comparison rates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy. From Wondery, I'm Cassie DePeckel, and this is Against the Odds.
On May 12, 1986, 13 climbers from a wilderness program at Oregon Episcopal School found themselves caught in a ferocious storm on Mount Hood. They were unable to descend safely and took refuge in a snow cave. The next morning, search and rescue personnel swarmed across the mountain looking for the missing climbers.
But conditions on the mountain were brutal, with extreme cold, strong winds, and low visibility. While the rescue teams risked their lives on the mountain, friends and family of the missing climbers gathered at Mount Hood's Timberline Ski Resort and waited, hoping against hope that their loved ones would be saved. This is Episode 4, Discovery. Frank McGinnis stares out the window of Mount Hood's Timberline Lodge restaurant.
It's 7:50 p.m. on May 13th, and the sky is dark and foreboding. The storm that's been pounding the mountains since yesterday afternoon is refusing to let up. As a result, rescue efforts have been temporarily suspended. Again, 11 climbers are still stranded out there, including his son Patrick.
Frank closes his eyes and kneads the back of his neck as he imagines the horror they must be going through. Excuse me, Mr. McGinnis? Frank turns to see that one of the rescue workers has approached him. There's a few of us from the team eating dinner over there. We wanted to see if you'd like to join us. Frank looks over and sees five other members of the rescue squad seated at a long table waving him over.
He nods quietly and walks across the dining room to join them. Over dinner, the workers share tales of past rescue attempts that were pulled off in the harshest conditions. The stories make Frank feel a little more hopeful that this rescue will have a happy ending as well. As they get to the end of their meal, Frank turns to the group.
So, listen, I was wondering, could you give me a sense of the plan for tonight and tomorrow? The rescue workers exchange glances and nod. Frank, you can read a map, right? Frank nods. Yeah, I can read a map. I can get lost, too. The rescue workers get up and start clearing the table. One of them unrolls a large topographical map.
Frank learned to read maps like this in the military. That was a long time ago, but it's coming back fast. So, Frank, see this area up here?
That's White River Canyon. We think the snow cave is up there, and we'll find it very soon, I promise. And you've got choppers flying over for the bird's eye view, right? That's right. And now that we have the manpower, we're keeping four to five search teams on the mountain, as long as conditions allow. The weather's not good, but it's getting better, and we've got more and more people coming in to help.
Frank's throat tightens with emotion. I appreciate that. Thanks for everything you're doing. Frank shakes their hands and leaves the restaurant for some fresh air. He's overcome with gratitude for these people who are risking so much to find his son. And their optimism has turned out to be contagious. The stomach pain that has nagged him ever since he last saw Patrick is now completely gone. But as he steps outside, his mood turns again.
Several reporters rush towards him with outstretched microphones. Any updates on your son? Frank blinks. He isn't sure how the reporters got his name. Hey guys, leave me alone, alright? He retreats to the lobby. His stomach hurts again. He clutches it as the total horror of his son's predicament reasserts itself. But there's nothing he can do. So he walks off in the direction of his room.
He hopes he'll fall asleep quickly and that he'll wake up to good news about his son. Barry Wright downs the last drops of another styrofoam cup of coffee and rubs his eyes. It's 3 a.m., and he's been up for nearly 24 hours helping to coordinate the search for the missing climbers.
They've converted Timberline Resort's ski patrol office into base operations, and it's littered with empty coffee cups and food containers. But he's hopeful that all their efforts are finally about to pay off. A few hours ago, they finally got a break in the weather. For the first time since the rescue effort started, the skies are clear and winds are low.
Wright now has three teams searching the upper reaches of White River Canyon, where Ralph Summers thinks they'll find the snow cave. Even in darkness, the rescuers will make much better progress now that the weather is in their favor. Wright perks up at the sound of a new transmission coming in. Base, this is Team 7. Go ahead, Team 7. We found tracks. They're originating from somewhere above us. Looks like two people passed through here, heading downhill.
Wright feels a twinge of anticipation, but tries not to get his hopes up. Earlier, one of his other teams found tracks that looked promising, only to realize they were left by other rescuers. Wright looks around the ski patrol office and sees Ralph Summers dozing on a couch nearby. Ralph, wake up! Together, Wright and Summers quiz the rescue worker on the exact location of the tracks.
When Summers hears what direction the tracks are heading in, he claps his hands. That was our exact compass bearing. Those have to be the tracks Molly and me left. Team 7, follow those tracks uphill and report back the second you find anything. Wright, Summers, and the other base operations staff hover closely around the radio. Wright feels certain this is the breakthrough they've been waiting for. Ten minutes pass, then 30. Finally, the radio crackles to life again.
Wright can sense the energy draining from the room. This was the first tangible lead of the entire rescue effort. And now it's gone.
He taps the handset against his forehead a few times, gathering himself, then radios back. Understood, Team 7. Continue your ascent along the last known heading of those tracks. We'll just have to hope for the best. Wright turns to look at Summers, but the climbing consultant won't make eye contact. Wright can only imagine how gutted he must feel.
He knows Summers feels a sense of responsibility for the missing climbers and wishes he could do more to help find them. But right now, they need him to rest up. After sunrise, they'll send Summers back up in another helicopter, hoping that this time he can retrace his route and lead them to the snow cave.
Rick Harder bounces his leg up and down as he sits in the back of a military helicopter filled with rescue personnel. He looks at his watch. It's 5.50 a.m.
That means that the search for the missing climbers has entered its 23rd hour. And Harder believes that this will be its final hour after all the dead ends, false leads, and forced retreats. Finally, they've found something. Harder was at base operations when a Portland mountain rescue team announced that they'd spotted what appeared to be a red sleeping bag near the eastern rim of White River Canyon.
Now, Harder is bringing Ralph Summers and a rescue team up to the canyon for a closer look. As Harder stares out his window at the canyon below, he is amazed at how clearly he can see the contours of White River Glacier. The frozen river of ice that carved this canyon over thousands of years gleams in the morning sun.
The storm that trapped the climbing party has finally lifted, and he can see every inch of the mountainside with stunning clarity. As the helicopter ascends, Harder spots something in the snow. Instantly, he knows it's not a sleeping bag. He looks at one of his fellow rescuers, an Air Force Master Sergeant named Charlie Eck.
Charlie, are you seeing what I'm seeing? I'm afraid so, Rick. And look, just over there, another one. Harder sees the second object, then picks up the walkie-talkie next to him.
Base operations, come in. This is Harder. Over. We hear you loud and clear, Rick. You see anything up there? Over. Harder thinks about what he should say next. He knows this is an open channel, and he can't be sure who else is listening in. He has to choose his words carefully. We have a visual on two possible survivors. We're going to land and get a closer look. Harder lowers the walkie-talkie.
His use of the word "survivors" was deliberate. He didn't want to say anything that could cause alarm back at base operations. But as the helicopter descends, Harder knows that if the objects they've spotted are people, then it's highly unlikely either one of them has survived.
Frank McGinnis pushes open the door that leads to the Timberline Resort parking lot. The muscles in his face tense as he sees the chaos unfolding in front of him. Rescue workers in olive green uniforms run back and forth with medical bags. Journalists crowd around sheriff's deputies and shout frantic questions.
It's not quite 6.15 in the morning, and clearly something significant has happened. He sees a small group of people gathered around a parked Chevy Impala. The driver's side door is open, and a man in a suit sits behind the wheel. Frank approaches an elderly man standing nearby. He's the grandfather of one of the missing climbers.
Frank nods at the Impala. "What's going on?" "The guy in the car is a reporter. He's got a radio that can tune into the rescue workers' frequencies. It sounds like they finally found something up there, but we don't know what." The reporter shouts from inside his car. "Everyone be quiet! I'm getting something!" "We've reached one of the victims." Suddenly, the radio goes dead.
Frank approaches the reporter. "What happened?" "They switched to a military channel. I can't pick up what they're saying anymore." Frank purses his lips and runs his hand along the side of his face. He recalls his army experience and knows this is a terrible sign. If the rescuers switch to a military channel, it means they want to talk about something that they're afraid to discuss openly.
It could mean that instead of survivors, they found bodies. Frank's stomach clenches again with the thought that one of those bodies could be his son.
When you're hiring, time is of the essence. That's why more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide use Indeed to find exceptional talent fast. Indeed's powerful matching engine works quickly, so quickly that, according to Indeed data worldwide, every minute 23 hires are made on Indeed.
But it doesn't stop there, because Indeed also helps you hire better. 93% of employers agree Indeed delivers the highest quality matches compared to other job sites, according to a recent Indeed survey. That's because their matching engine is always learning from your preference. So the more you use Indeed, the better it gets.
So let Indeed be your go-to for making great hires quickly and easily. And listeners of the show, get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com slash the odds. Just go to Indeed.com slash the odds right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash the odds. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.
These days, it feels like we're all just on the hunt for ways to optimize our health and feel our absolute best. The only problem is, with all these supplements out there, it can be really tough to know which ones are actually worth your time and money. That's where today's sponsor Symbiotica comes in. Symbiotica is a premium supplement brand that's raising the bar when it comes to purity, potency, and efficacy. Their supplements are formulated with high-quality ingredients. That's why their formulas don't have any seed oils, preservatives,
toxins, artificial additives, or natural flavors. Plus, while most supplements can taste chalky or sulfuric, Symbiotica's supplements have amazing flavors like citrus lime, vanilla chai, or wild berry. I've been loving the magnesium supplement from Symbiotica. Being low in magnesium, I've made it a priority lately to take it consistently. I love how I can take it on the go and ensure I'm never missing a dose. Feel more energized, alert, and balanced with high-quality supplements that work.
Head over to Symbiotica.com and use code ODDS for 20% off and free shipping on your subscription order. Rick Harder stands and looks down at a teenager, curled up in the fetal position in the snow. A second teenager lies just a few yards away. His colleagues have checked both victims and confirmed it. No breathing, no pulse. A thin layer of ice covers their faces.
These were someone's beautiful children. Now, they're gone. Harder's radio chirps. It's the pilot of a second helicopter that's searching farther up the canyon. Be advised, we've spotted another object that appears to be one of the climbers. Estimated elevation, 82. No sign of movement. Harder closes his eyes and sighs. That's three. But that leaves eight climbers that could still be alive.
A rescue worker approaches. Harder doesn't recognize him, so he blocks his path. I don't want anyone disturbing the bodies. You're absolutely sure they're dead? I'm sure. Tell your team to keep searching the eastern rim of the canyon above this spot. We can't help these kids, but there's still a chance we'll find survivors in the snow cave. The rescuer looks skeptical, and Harder understands why.
It's not really his place to be issuing orders. He's not officially in charge up here, but right now, everyone else looks too stunned to act. They're all milling around like the search is over. Harder calls out, "There's eight more people on this mountain, and they could still be alive. Let's keep looking." The other rescue workers start heading back up the slope to resume their search.
Harder pulls out his Air Force radio and switches to a military channel. Harder to base. Someone alert the sheriff's department. We're bringing down three Deltas. It's a transmission Harder hoped he wouldn't have to make. Delta is a code word for deceased.
♪♪ ♪♪
It's been a long ordeal, but now Frank is feeling energized. Good news has spread that three survivors were recovered from Mount Hood. The search and rescue rep will update everyone on the survivors and overall progress of the rescue effort.
Frank moves towards the back of the cafeteria, trying to contain his excitement. He believes he's just minutes away from seeing his son. The crowd suddenly goes quiet, and Frank turns towards the door. A middle-aged man in a blue blazer walks to the front of the room and asks if he can have everyone's attention. Frank takes a step forward as all conversation in the cafeteria stops. The spokesman clears his throat.
I have been authorized to deliver some news. You've probably heard that three survivors were recovered from the mountain, but I'm afraid there's been a miscommunication. The three people found did not survive. They are deceased. Frank covers his mouth with his hand as several people in the room cry out.
Two parents, just a few feet away from him, stagger, then drop to the floor. Frank feels like he's about to collapse himself. He looks around the room for someone, anyone, who can assure him that none of the bodies found was Patrick. For what feels like the hundredth time, Ralph Summers buckles into the back of a military helicopter. It's 3.15 p.m. on Thursday, May 15th.
It's been over 24 hours since the bodies of Eric Sandvik, Alison Litzenberger, and Aaron O'Leary were recovered on Mount Hood, and over two days since Summers and Molly Shula left the snow cave to get help. But somehow, in all that time, rescue workers still haven't been able to locate the climbers that remain missing.
As the helicopter lifts off, Summers can feel the eyes of the rescue team on him. Rick Harder's expression is especially intense.
Summers feels like Harder and the other rescuers blame him for his failure to remember the exact route he and Molly took from the cave. He knows they've been constantly questioning why the climbing party didn't have an altimeter, so they could know the exact elevation to search. Summers takes a deep breath.
and then exhales. All he can do is try to focus and try one more time to spot something, anything, that will help them find the snow cave.
As they pass above 8,000 feet, Summers peers down at a section of White River Glacier. They must have flown over this exact spot at least half a dozen times. And yet, for some reason, this time, the landscape of snowdrifts and rocks looks somehow familiar. Summers calls out to the pilot. Hey, I recognize something. Can you land?
Are you sure? Summers hesitates. As usual, he's not sure. But something in his gut tells him he has to stand firm. Yes, I'm sure. The pilot circles until he finds a level patch of snow, then starts a slow, careful descent. Summers hears Harder's voice over his headset. Remember, Ralph, you only need to be right once. The helicopter lands, and Summers exits with Harder and his rescue team.
He looks around and points. There, to the east. I remember that ridge line. Harder gets on his radio and relays their coordinates to base operations. I need every team on White River Glacier to head to our location. Right now. Ralph thinks we're close. Then he nods to Summers. Okay, Ralph. You're up. Summers starts walking with Harder's team right behind him. Up close, the landscape looks even more familiar.
For the first time in three days, Summers finally feels like he's heading in the right direction. Rick Harder moves carefully along the snowy steep surface of White River Glacier. His every move is deliberate. He makes as little noise as possible. The climbers cave might be nearby, but it's likely to be completely covered in snow.
So Harder listens intently for the sound of muffled pounding or calls for help. Ralph Summers is just a few steps ahead, scanning the craggy terrain. Suddenly, he stops. "It's right around here, Rick. I'm sure of it." Harder nods as he hears the sound of footsteps behind him. He turns and sees about 30 rescue workers trudging uphill towards them. They're all going to search the area based on Summers' gut feeling.
Parter looks at his colleague, Charlie Eck. We've got enough people to do a fine probe search. What do you think? Let's do it. Parter calls out to the volunteers. Ralph says a snow cave is in this area. We're going to fine probe this snow until we find it. Line up.
Probe left.
Then they take one step forward. "Probe right!" The rescue workers stick their probes in the snow again. Harder nods. This is tedious, time-consuming work, but Harder thinks they need to be thorough. If Summers is right and the snow cave is nearby, it would be a tragedy if they missed it. "Probe right!" Rescue worker Charlie Eck pushes his 10-foot probe into the snow in front of him.
It's 5.15 p.m. Eck and the other rescuers have been fine-probing White River Glacier for almost two hours. Eck is getting tired, and his arms ache. He wonders if Harder was wrong to order a time-consuming fine probe of this area. They should have discovered some clue by now if the cave was here. And they can't keep searching like this for much longer. The wind has picked back up, and the clouds are rolling in.
Base operations has warned the team that in 45 minutes, they'll have to start bringing rescue crews off the mountain again for safety. The clock is ticking. But as X stabs the snow with his probe yet again, he wonders if it's already too late. The people they're searching for have been stranded up here for three days. If any of them were still alive, surely they would have found some trace of them by now.
It all points to one inescapable conclusion. This is no longer a rescue mission. It's a recovery. But Eck knows it's his job to keep searching. So he takes another step forward, raises his probe, and presses it into the snow once more. Eck takes a sudden step back. It might be his imagination, but it feels like his probe is touching something that isn't snow.
X stabs the snow with his probe again in the same spot. He feels something resisting, but it's not a rock. This is softer. It almost feels like... Can I get a shovel, please? I need a shovel right now. Another rescuer thrusts a shovel into X's hands. He drops to his knees and digs as fast as he can. Rescue workers crowd around him.
Ek hears Harder's voice. "More shovels, come on! Let's help him out!" Finally, about four feet down, Ek's shovel slams into something.
He brushes the snow away until he sees what it is. He gasps. It's the edge of a yellow tarp. And just below that, a green backpack. Ek looks up as Ralph Summers approaches. It's the equipment cache, right, Ralph? Summers nods, getting his bearings. Then turns to his right and points at a massive snowdrift. There. That's where I dug the snow cave. Everyone!
The rescue workers run towards the giant heap of snow and start digging. X sits back and exhales. He's exhausted, but the search is over. They found the snow cave, and in just a few minutes, they'll learn whether they found it in time to save any lives.
This season, Instacart has your back-to-school. As in, they've got your back-to-school lunch favorites, like snack packs and fresh fruit. And they've got your back-to-school supplies, like backpacks, binders, and pencils. And they've got your back when your kid casually tells you they have a huge school project due tomorrow.
Let's face it, we were all that kid. So first call your parents to say I'm sorry, and then download the Instacart app to get delivery in as fast as 30 minutes all school year long. Get a $0 delivery fee for your first three orders while supplies last. Minimum $10 per order. Additional terms apply.
Rick Harder digs alongside several of his colleagues. It's 5.38 p.m., May 15th, 1986, on Mount Hood's White River Glacier at an elevation of 8,200 feet. Harder is certain that somewhere just below him lies the snow cave.
and the last of the missing climbers. He urges the other men along. Come on, faster! Remember, the weather's going to turn any minute. Harder thrusts his shovel down as his colleagues do the same. Then, just a few feet away, he sees Charlie Eck stagger forward, losing his balance. His shovel has just broken through into open space. Over here!
Parter races over and gets down on his hands and knees. He peers into the dark hole exposed by X-Shovel. A pungent smell rises from the void. Parter knows instantly that this is it. They've found the snow cave. For a moment, everyone stops digging, and there's a silence. And then, unmistakably, Parter hears a faint moan.
One of his colleagues calls out, "Hey, somebody's talking to me." Harder calls out to his colleagues, "Everyone, search the edge of this mound. There has to be an entrance somewhere. It's too risky to dig in from the roof. It could collapse." The rescue workers move in and start digging. Finally, one of them exposes a narrow tunnel that leads into the front of the cave.
When they've dug in far enough for someone to crawl through, Harder turns to Charlie Eck. Charlie, can you climb in there and check vital signs? Eck nods, grabs a small medical bag, and slithers into the cave. Harder watches him go, hoping against hope that whoever they can hear moaning isn't the only survivor.
Charlie Eck squeezes through the icy tunnel and onto the frozen floor of the snow cave. He knows he must work fast to identify any survivors so they can be rushed off the mountain and medevaced to a nearby hospital. In the flickering light of his headlamp, he sees the face of a teenage girl with brown hair. Her eyelids are blue and her limbs are stiff.
But when he presses his stethoscope to her chest, he detects a slow, faint heartbeat. Got a live one! Lying stretched out next to her is a tall teenage boy. Eck doesn't need to check his pulse to know he's alive. He's the one moaning.
"And now I got two!" Eck looks up and sees Rick Harder squeezing into the cave entrance. "Check for others, Charlie. I'll take care of these two." As Eck climbs deeper into the cave, his hands shake, and not just because of the cold. He is desperate for more good news. If these first two teenagers are still alive, there could be more survivors.
At the back of the cave, Eck finds four more teenagers stacked up on top of the legs of two adults, a man and a woman. The man has a bushy beard. Eck realizes this must be the climbing group's leader, Father Tom Gohmann, and the woman must be the school's dean of students, Marion Horwell.
Gomen, Horwell, and the four teens are completely motionless. They look like pale, wax statues. Looking at how they're all positioned, Eck realizes that the two adults tried to protect the teenagers from the icy meltwater collecting at the bottom of the cave.
That's why all four students are lying across their legs. He pauses for a second to marvel at the courage of Goman and Horwell. Then he gets to work. Eck places his stethoscope on the chest of a boy with blonde hair and frowns. He doesn't hear anything. He moves on, checking each student one at a time, then the two adults.
Behind him, he hears Harder curse softly. "I tried to check the big kid's temperature and he's shaking so hard he bit the thermometer right in half. How are you doing back there? Any luck?" Eck looks up and starts to speak, but his voice catches in his throat. Instead, he just slowly shakes his head. Ralph Summers stands outside the snow cave, motionless.
He's so still, he can feel his heart pounding inside his chest. He watches as Giles Thompson is pulled from the cave, then one of the female students. It takes him a second to recognize her as Brinton Clark. Both she and Giles are moaning and shivering, but they're alive. Now, Summers just hopes they can stay alive until they're brought to a hospital.
He looks away and realizes he's standing right on the edge of a steep precipice. He looks down at the slope he and Molly Shula slid down two days ago on their way to get help. Now, that help is finally here, but he wonders if it's too late. One of the rescue workers approaches Summers and gently puts a hand on his shoulder. You might not want to stick around for this, Ralph.
Summers starts to ask, "Why not?" But then, he realizes what the rescue worker means. In a daze, he turns and walks slowly back downhill towards the closest helicopter. Barry Wright rubs his eyes as he walks into the Timberline Resort parking lot. It's 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15th, and Wright has barely stepped outside for 62 hours.
He didn't want to leave his post at base operations, not until this rescue was completed. But he needs to be present for what's about to happen next. Wright has heard that there are survivors on the Army Green Huey helicopter that is about to land in the parking lot. Those survivors are to be transferred to a medical helicopter and taken to the nearest intensive care unit.
But before they go, Wright wants to see them with his own eyes. So he volunteered to be a part of the team that does the transfer. As the helicopter touches down on the asphalt, Wright and the other volunteers race forward. The helicopter's door slides open, and paramedics jump out, carrying a stretcher. Wright hands one of the paramedics a blanket and watches as they throw it over their patient. He looks down and sees the patient's face.
It's a teenage boy with curly hair. Wright is glad to see that the boy appears to be conscious, eyes open. But then he looks more closely, and his heart breaks. The boy's eyes are wide, vacant, and lifeless. He isn't one of the survivors. He's dead. Wright stops and covers his mouth with his hand as the paramedics pull the blanket over the boy's face, then carry him to the medevac helicopter.
He's worked dozens of search and rescue operations, and they haven't all been successful. But something about this one is hitting him hard. He closes his eyes, and all he can see is that boy's face. Giles Thompson breathes deeply as he stands upon a snowy mountain slope in Colorado.
It's a perfect, clear, brisk day. The sky is blue and cloudless, and Giles can see snow-covered mountains that stretch out towards the horizon. It's 1990, four years since the climbing tragedy on Mount Hood that nearly took his life. Giles is a college student now, majoring in theater. He often feels lucky to be alive, but especially on a day like this.
Giles fell asleep in the snow cave and woke up days later in the hospital, surrounded by doctors and his family. The doctor said Giles was a very strong young man, and the fact that he was dressed extra warmly probably saved his life. The doctor also said that frostbite had severely injured his body and that Giles would need surgery.
Giles accepted the prognosis and decided right then that he would make the most of the rest of his life. Giles looks down at the gleaming, intricate metalwork of his prosthetic legs, which are clipped into his skis. When he was first told that he would lose both his legs, he was scared. But he's gotten used to the prosthetics. Giles grips his ski poles and lowers his head.
He thinks for a moment about the friends he lost in 1986. They're always present, especially at moments like this, when he's up in the mountains surrounded by snow. Then he takes a deep breath, pushes off, and zooms down the powdery slope. Frank McGinnis walks across Oregon Episcopal School's campus towards the old bell tower.
It's May 2006, 20 years since his son Patrick perished on Mount Hood. He hasn't been back to the OES campus for several years, but today he's returned to attend an annual remembrance for the climbers who lost their lives in 1986. On the lawn under the bell tower, there are several rows of folding chairs. Frank finds a seat towards the back and looks around.
He nods at a few familiar faces, fellow parents, retired faculty members. Then a chaplain steps up to a podium under the tower and the service begins. Frank closes his eyes and pictures his son at 15, as he's done every day for the last 20 years. He can hear Patrick's laugh in his head and it makes him smile now.
Then the chaplain recites the names of those who died and the bell tolls after each one. Patrick McGinnis. When Frank hears Patrick's name, tears begin to run down his cheeks. But he's glad he came. He's grateful for the memory of his son. The 1986 Mount Hood tragedy was the second worst alpine disaster in the history of North America.
It claimed nine lives: Tom Goeman, Marion Horwell, Tasha Amey, Richard Hayter, Allison Litzenberger, Susan McClave, Aaron O'Leary, Eric Sandvik, and Patrick McGinnis. After the tragedy, Oregon Episcopal School suspended its Base Camp outdoor program and commissioned an investigation to determine what went wrong.
That July, a panel of experts noted that Goeman was probably suffering from the effects of hypothermia, and this may have affected his decision-making abilities. The father of one of the deceased, Susan McClave, said about Goeman, We will never know, any of us, for sure why he climbed as long as he did, but he was a fine man who never would have endangered his own life, let alone anyone else's.
Giles Thompson earned a degree in drama from Colorado College. He worked as a master artisan with numerous theater companies in the Seattle, Washington area. Brenton Clark, the other Snow Cave survivor, was released from the hospital in May 1986 without any medical complications, but was released in the year of his death.
She generally declines interview requests, but in 1996 told The Oregonian, "I was only 15. I don't do a lot of second guessing. I survived and many wonderful things happened to me. I lived. Why is not a question that has plagued me." Molly Shula graduated from OES in 1986. She went on to study English at the University of Oregon.
Except to give a statement to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Department, she has never spoken publicly about the tragedy. Ralph Summers earned an advanced degree in sociology and counsels mental health patients. Though some in the media criticized him at the time, others are quick to point out that if he hadn't dug a snow cave or gone for help with Molly Shula, Giles Thompson and Brinton Clark would not have survived.
Barry Wright retired from Portland Mountain Rescue after 17 years as a volunteer. He later said, "Of all the organizations I've ever belonged to, Portland Mountain Rescue is still the best. I can't praise them enough for their dedication to maintaining the freedom of the hills that we love to climb." He last climbed Mount Hood in 2007. Rick Harder rescued over 300 people over the course of a 23-year career.
He died of a heart attack at 44. Frank McGinnis struggled tremendously following the death of his son, but has found ways to heal over the years. His younger son, Chris, is currently a meteorologist and traffic reporter in Portland, Oregon. Chris and his wife welcomed a son in 2017. Frank loves his grandson very much. His name is Patrick McGinnis.
On our next episode, we'll have my conversation with author Rick Conrad. Rick's book, Code 1244, The 1986 Mount Hood Tragedy, helped inspire and guide this series. This is episode four of our four-part series, Trapped on Mount Hood. A quick note about our scenes. In most cases, we can't know exactly what was said, but everything is based on historical research.
If you'd like to learn more about this event, we highly recommend the book Code 1244 by Rick Conrad. I'm your host, Cassie DePeckel. Hannibal Diaz wrote this episode. Our editor is Sean Raviv. Our audio engineer is Sergio Enriquez. Sound design is by Joe Richardson. Script consulting by Rick Conrad.
Produced by Matt Almos and Emily Frost. Our managing producer is Tanja Thigpen. Our coordinating producer is Matt Gant. Our senior producer is Andy Herman. Our executive producers are Jenny Lauer-Beckman, Stephanie Jens, and Marshall Louis. For Wondery. Hey, it's Guy Raz here, host of How I Built This, a podcast that gives you a front row seat to how some of the best known companies in the world were built.
In a new weekly series we've launched called Advice Line, I'm joined by some legendary founders and together we talk to entrepreneurs in every industry to help tackle their roadblocks in real time. Everybody buys on feeling, Guy, like everybody. So if you don't give them the feeling that they're looking for, they're not going to buy. A lot of times founders will go outside of themselves to build a story. And
And you can't replicate heart. You know, I think we all have a little bit of imposter syndrome, which isn't the worst thing in the world because it doesn't allow you to get overconfident and think that you're invincible. Check out the advice line by following How I Built This on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to How I Built This early and ad-free right now on Wondery Plus.