Search operations for 26-year-old Matthew Aldridge have been suspended and reclassified as a recovery mission after he went missing while attempting to summit Mount Hood. His companions reported him overdue on Dec. 13 after turning back due to poor conditions. Cell-phone data directed rescuers to Pea Gravel Ridge above 8,400 feet, but teams including the Hood River Crag Rats and Portland Mountain Rescue found no sign of him. Weather and darkness forced multiple pauses in the search.
26-Year-Old Hiker Vanishes on Mount Hood; Cell-Phone Data Point Rescuers to Possible Fall Site
GettyMount Hood
Matthew Aldridge, a 26-year-old from Bend, Oregon, went missing while attempting to summit Mount Hood after departing from the Mt. Hood Meadows resort, authorities said. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office (HRCSO) says Aldridge's two companions turned back because of poor conditions; when they later lost contact with him they reported him overdue at about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Responders used a combination of fixed-wing aircraft, ground search teams and cell-phone forensics during initial efforts to locate Aldridge. Cell-phone data led searchers to terrain near Pea Gravel Ridge at elevations above 8,400 feet, where investigators believed a fall may have occurred.
Search operations on Saturday were suspended at nightfall because of darkness and unsafe conditions. An expanded search resumed Sunday, Dec. 14, and included volunteer and professional teams such as the Hood River Crag Rats and Portland Mountain Rescue. Teams reached the location indicated by the phone data but found no sign of Aldridge.
Weather and hazardous conditions forced officials to pause active searching again on Sunday. The HRCSO said the operation has been transitioned from an active search for a live subject to a recovery mission and could resume searching if conditions improve. People contacted the sheriff’s office for further comment; as of Dec. 16 the agency had not provided additional information.
Mount Hood Context
Mount Hood is a dormant volcano rising to 11,239 feet, roughly 45 miles east-southeast of Portland. The mountain contains 12 glaciers and numerous snowfields, which can create dangerous and rapidly changing conditions for climbers and skiers.
Note: Authorities urge anyone planning climbs on high-elevation, glaciated terrain to carry proper safety equipment, share route and timing plans with others, and be prepared to turn back in poor weather.
