Friday, Dec. 11, 2009
1 a.m. Anthony Vietti, Katie Nolan and Luke Gullberg register at Timberline Lodge intending to summit Mt. Hood via the Reid Glacier route. The trio had an active cell phone
1:30 a.m. One of the climbers activates the cell phone, most likely while still in the lodge's vicinity
2 p.m. The climbers expected to be back at Timberline having completed their 13-hour summit
4 p.m. A worried friend reports the climbers missing
Late evening: A threatening weather system begins moving into NW Oregon
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009
Early morning: Clackamas County coordinates 30 volunteers to search for climbers
10 a.m. The body of Luke Gullberg was found on the Reid Glacier above 9,000-feet elevation, near the base of a headwall. Searchers find a camera with close-up photos of all three climbers.
Family of climbers arrive, along with chaplains from Sandy and nearby communities
3 p.m. Volunteers continue the search; weather conditions become treacherous with limited visibility, preventing aerial support from helicopters or planes
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009
Severe weather conditions across NW Oregon create zero-visibility, blizzard conditions on Mt. Hood and the threat of avalanches and falling ice prevents Search and Rescue efforts.
Churches and congregations across the country offer prayers and support for the three climbers, who were deeply religious and had met during church activities
Monday, Dec. 14, 2009
5:30 a.m. Search and rescue efforts begin with aerial surveillance from Civil Air Patrol, Oregon Army National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard. A NWS meteorologist arrives and identifies a four-hour window for optimal searching, between noon and 4 p.m.
10 a.m. A press conference with the Search and Rescue coordinators and the family of Anthony Vietti
Lead Rescue coordinator narrows the search to the 10,000-foot-to-summit elevations of Mt. Hood's western face
12 p.m. Conditions clear enough for US Air Force Rescue Squadron to begin scaling upper reaches of Mt. Hood
3 p.m. State medical examiners determine Luke Gullberg died from hypothermia and had suffered minor "non-life-threatening" injuries in a fall
3:30 p.m. Another weather system moves in and forecasters predict 18 inches of new snow. Aerial search suspended.
5:00 p.m. Vigils held from Portland to Longview, Wash. by friends, coworkers and acquaintances of the three climbers.
6:30 p.m. Search effort suspended for day. Experts predict that the two climbers could remain safe in a snow cave for five days with provisions and without injury
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009
5:30 a.m. Blizzard-like conditions and a "white wall of snow" delay search efforts
Military arrives with aerial support and ground squadrons canvassing mountain
Coordinators say the moment weather lets up all rescuers will be "instantly deployed"
10 a.m. Search and Rescue specialized medic arrives to speak with family about survivability scenarios
11 a.m. Coordinators reassure family that operation remains "search and rescue" and not "recovery"
4 p.m. Dr. Teri Schmidt, a search and rescue special medic, said the odds of finding Nolan or Vietti alive after five days on the mountain were about 1 percent.
4:30 p.m. Investigators reveal that Gullberg may have died while trying to rescue Nolan. Search and rescue effort suspended until early Wednesday, when Blackhawk helicopters were scheduled to resume efforts.
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009
2 p.m. The massive search for Katie Nolan and Anthony Vietti was suspended. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said rescue efforts would transition to a recovery mission once the harsh weather abated atop Mount Hood.
Katie's father, David Nolan, said his daughter was now buried upon the mountain she most loved - where she'd told her friends she someday wanted to be buried.
Anthony's father, John Vietti, asked those who had offered support and prayers to not lose faith in God. "God has answered our prayers - and for myself and my family this has not shaken our faith."
