Oregon, Mt. Hood

Publication Year: 1956.

Oregon, Mt. Hood—A party consisting of 30 members (men, women and children) of the Sierra Club climbed Mt. Hood on August 19, 1955 from Timberline Lodge to the summit via the normal route (all class 2 and 3). The party was led by Gene Todd, an experienced climber. All members reached the summit. It was necessary to place fixed ropes at the beginning of the “chute,” a glaciated area extending 800 feet to the summit, because of ice.

On the return Miss Patschkowski lost here balance and rolled down from about the middle to the bottom of the chute and ended in a crevasse 30 feet deep. She received the immediate attention of two physicians in the party and was taken down on a stretcher-sled sent up by Timberline Lodge. Injuries consisted of extensive bruises, contusions, abrasions, multiple lacerations of the right side of her abdomen, right thigh and leg caused by her ice axe, and seven ribs were fractured.

During first aid treatment, Dr. Wayburn (a member of the party), discovered she had a lift on one foot as a result of poliomyelitis several years

earlier. Later several members of the party reported she stumbled several times before the fall and had difficulty keeping up with the party.

The weather was dry and warm. Snow conditions at the point where she fell were good with no tendency to slide and deep enough to offer good footing. The other members of the party had no difficulty.

Source: William Siri.