FALL ON ROCK

Oregon, Three Fingered Jack

Kate Tinnesand (23), a graduate student at Oregon State University and member of Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit, died in a fall while descending Three Fingered Jack, on July 23, after a climb with two other Unit members. They had completed the “technical” part of the climb, had unroped, and were working their way down the south ridge when Kate slipped on a gravel-covered ledge and tumbled over 700 feet on the west side of the mountain, sustaining fatal injuries.

Comment

She had been coming to CMRU meetings and training sessions since January and had just completed the interview process in June to become a fall member. Kate enjoyed the outdoors including climbing the Cascade peaks in Oregon and Washington. Kate was finishing a Masters in microbiology and had aspiration to work as a climbing ranger in the parks. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her and especially her team in Corvallis. (Source: Rocky Henderson, Oregon Region MRA)

(Editor’s Note: There was a fatality on Mount Hood’s Cooper Spur route in the summer, but no details were sent forward. There have been 18 recorded fatalities on this route.)