Injured climber rescued on North Sister

An Air National Guard helicopter plucked an injured climber off the slopes of North Sister last week.

Matt Gorman, 40, of Pomeroy, Washington, was hurt when a 500- to 800-pound boulder slid out from under him. The climber rode the boulder downslope for a while before he was thrown clear.

Gorman suffered an injured knee and numerous cuts, including one that nearly severed a finger, according to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports.

Gorman called for help to his climbing companions, who had previously turned back and were about 1,000 feet downslope. They contacted emergency personnel.

AirLife responded, with two Deschutes County Search & Rescue team members on board. The 45-50 degree slopes were too steep to land on, so the rescue team landed 1,000 feet below the climber and the Mountain Rescue Unit climbers planned to hike to Gorman's location.

However, that plan would require more personnel and time was getting short. Weather was worsening on the peak and the rescue team did not know the extent of Gorman's injuries.

They requested assistance from Oregon Emergency Management and an Air National Guard chopper with a winch was dispatched from Salem.

With concerns about weather mounting, ground crews from Lane County SAR prepared to hike into the area from the west and a Deschutes County team mobilized from the east, in case cloud cover prevented the helicopter from flying.

But the National guard helicopter made it to the scene and lowered a basket to Gorman and winched him back up into the helicopter. Then the chopper winched up the two Mountain Rescue Unit climbers who were still on the mountain.

The helicopter delivered Gorman to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, where he was treated for his injuries.