Climber evacuated from South Sister

An Air Life helicopter lifted Wayne Evans of Eugene off the slopes of South Sister on Saturday, August 15, after he injured his leg while descending the peak.

According to Deschutes County Sheriff's Search & Rescue, Evans' climbing companion, Shannon McGlothin, called by cell phone from the Devil's Lake Trail Head at 9 p.m. on August 14, to report that the 51-year-old man had injured himself in a fall.

The fall apparently occurred at 6 p.m.

Although not life threatening, the leg injury was severe enough that Evans was unable to descend the mountain.

After determining that Evans was with another climber at the top of the South Sister and that the two had a tent, sleeping bag and adequate clothing for an overnight stay on the mountain, Sgt. Wayne Inman of Search and Rescue decided to use Air Life for an evacuation at first light the following morning.

A climb team wouldn't have reached the top before daylight anyway.

A ground evacuation would have required several hours and would have been difficult on the loose footing on the mountain, Inman reported.

According to Search andRescue reports, at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Air Life transported Search and Rescue volunteer Caleb Cordel, who is also a nurse, to the top of the mountain.

After a brief medical examination, Evans was transported to St. Charles for treatment.