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PMR Receives PEAK Award for Excellence in Rescue
Thursday, June 30, 2005

At the recent Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) conference in Vail, Colorado, Portland Mountain Rescue received the PEAK Award for Excellence in Technical Rescue. The award, presented by the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) and the MRA, is intended to recognize outstanding performance on a particular search and rescue mission.

In this case, PMR was acknowledged for their nationally-known rescue on Oregon's Mount Hood on May 30, 2002. That day, 18 PMR members joined in the rescue effort of nine climbers injured in a fall at the Bergschrund crevasse on the South Side of the 11,239-foot mountain. Three of the climbers were dead on the scene, but four of the survivors were critically injured and requiring airlifts to Portland area hospitals. During the third airlift, an Air Force Reserve Pave Hawk helicopter crashed into the mountain following equipment failure. Several members of the crew were injured and the wreckage along with the loss of a key evacuation vehicle complicated an already difficult rescue scene. The event was televised live in the Portland area and seen worldwide soon after.		The PEAK Award for Excellence in Technical Rescue, presented by NASAR and the MRA for PMR's efforts on May 30, 2002.
Following the crash, PMR rescue leaders coordinated the multi-scene rescue and, working with the Oregon National Guard, Air Force Reserve and other rescuers, managed to evacuate all the remaining victims to safety. PMR teams later recovered the three deceased climbers from the crevasse.