Portland Mountain Rescue
Encyclopedia
Portland Mountain Rescue is a search and rescue
organization based in Portland, Oregon
, United States. It specializes in high angle mountain rescue
in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, as well as providing educational materials and information for the local mountaineering community. Secondary areas of operations are Central Oregon
and western Washington.
Portland Mountain Rescue is called upon by sheriff departments when there is a reported missing climber or hiker in the mountains. Since its inception, Portland Mountain Rescue has been involved in most, if not all, rescues on Mount Hood
.
Portland Mountain Rescue volunteers object to media reports suggesting the members "risk their own lives" as it is hard on their families and inaccurate. The organization has several procedures and requirements which insure its own member safety, such as working in teams of at least two on high, steep terrain.
In 1955, the groups which had been doing rescues formed MORESCO, an acronym for Mountain Rescue Council of Oregon. In 1959, MORESCO joined several other organizations from the western US and formed the Mountain Rescue Association at Timberline Lodge. By the mid 1970s, MORESCO was experiencing difficulties related to its wide geographic area; it began reorganizing into regional teams. In 1977, the Portland unit of MORESCO formed Portland Mountain Rescue.
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
organization based in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States. It specializes in high angle mountain rescue
Rope rescue
Rope rescue is a subset of technical rescue that involves the use of static nylon kernmantle ropes, anchoring and belaying devices, friction rappel devices, various devices to utilize mechanical advantage for hauling systems, and other specialized equipment to reach victims and safely recover...
in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, as well as providing educational materials and information for the local mountaineering community. Secondary areas of operations are Central Oregon
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
and western Washington.
Portland Mountain Rescue is called upon by sheriff departments when there is a reported missing climber or hiker in the mountains. Since its inception, Portland Mountain Rescue has been involved in most, if not all, rescues on Mount Hood
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
.
Portland Mountain Rescue volunteers object to media reports suggesting the members "risk their own lives" as it is hard on their families and inaccurate. The organization has several procedures and requirements which insure its own member safety, such as working in teams of at least two on high, steep terrain.
History
Up until the 1950s, there little in the way of formal mountain rescue in Oregon. Some of the mountain climbing clubs like Mazamas and Wy'east Climbers did many rescues where their members and friends needed help. When ski patrolling began on Mount Hood, members also participated in rescues.In 1955, the groups which had been doing rescues formed MORESCO, an acronym for Mountain Rescue Council of Oregon. In 1959, MORESCO joined several other organizations from the western US and formed the Mountain Rescue Association at Timberline Lodge. By the mid 1970s, MORESCO was experiencing difficulties related to its wide geographic area; it began reorganizing into regional teams. In 1977, the Portland unit of MORESCO formed Portland Mountain Rescue.