Search Suspended for 'Likely Dead' Mt. Hood Climbers

Officials say avalanche risk too great
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 16, 2009 4:13 AM CST
Search Suspended for 'Likely Dead' Mt. Hood Climbers
Anthony Vietti, a 24-year-old from Longview, Washington, has been missing on Ft. Hood since Friday.   (AP Photo/Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office)

Two hikers missing since last week on Oregon's Mount Hood are almost certainly dead, say authorities. The search has been suspended due to the threat of avalanches. The chances of finding somebody alive in such conditions after 48 hours are less than 1%, a local specialist in emergency medicine tells CNN, although the missing pair are experienced and well-equipped. Their companion was found dead of hypothermia over the weekend.

Luke Gullberg was discovered with a lone mitten belonging to one of his fellow hikers, noted the search coordinator, who suggested it may be a sign that someone in the group suffered an accident and lost a glove in the process, prompting Gullberg to go for help and leave his gloves behind, taking the single mitten with him for warmth.
(More mountain climber stories.)

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