Clackamas County Sheriff Office contacted Portland Mountain Rescue requesting assistance around 6:50 pm.  PMR was activated, and rescuers met at Timberline Lodge.  PMR’s Rocky Henderson was able to make cell phone contact with the lost climbers around 7:00 pm.  He provided them with GPS coordinates and instructions to reach Illumination Saddle, which ultimately allowed the climbers to self-rescue. 

PMR personnel began assembling at Timberline Lodge at 8:00 pm.  Confirmation of an active MLU in the general direction of Illumination Saddle was made and a hasty team of 5 rescuers was transported to the top of the Palmer at 10:30 pm.  Another MLU sweep was performed which indicated that the active signal was then below the rescuers location and in the general proximity of the Lodge.  At approximately 11:15 pm the climbers were able to walk out on their own, all in good shape.  Hasty team returned to Timberline, arriving at midnight. 

While it is important to carry a Map, Compass, Altimeter and GPS, it is even more crucial to know how to properly use this equipment.  One example would be to mark waypoints into a GPS of major features of the terrain while traveling.  The MLU device is helpful to rescuers, but it does not initiate a rescue.  The MLU works in conjunction with a cell phone, which is needed to place a call out requesting help.  More importantly, carrying a MLU does not guarantee a rescue.  It’s best for a person to be prepared with good navigational and survival skills when attempting to push a weather window in the mountains.