PORTLAND, Ore. -- The climber who was rescued and airlifted off Mt. Hood Sunday night said he looks like he was severely injured, but amazingly, he wasn't hurt that badly when he tumbled 300 feet down the snow- and ice-covered mountain.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said climber Chris Biddle, 39, of Puyallup, Wash., suffered arm, leg and head injuries when he fell in the treacherous area known as 'Hogs back.'

A helicopter crew reached him several hours later and said Biddle was in good condition as they airlifted him to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland just after 6 p.m. He was expected to be released from the hospital on Monday.

“The next thing I remember is I was going very fast, very quickly, and I couldn’t self arrest. I knew everything on my face was superficial and I had chewed up the inside of my mouth, but I was still considering walking down,” Biddle said from an OHSU hospital room Monday.

“The fellow was fortunate there were other people around or it could’ve changed to another outcome if he was by himself,” said Bob Alexander, a volunteer with Portland Mountain Rescue.

Biddle’s face is covered in fresh scars, but he says it is not as horrific as it looks.  “Still can’t wrap my lips around a straw, but I’m here with my eyeballs and nothing’s broken,” Biddle said. 

The climber who helped Biddle, Jeff Manor, 31, said they met for the first time at the summit and then the pair decided to descend together for safety. Manor, from Rochester, Wash., is in training as a volunteer fire fighter so he was able to use his knowledge to help his fellow climber.

 Slideshow: Photos of rescue

When they reached an especially difficult area on the mountain, Manor said Biddle took a sudden fall. He rushed down to Biddle after watching him tumble down the mountain. He said at first, the man was not moving, so he called 9-1-1 and started to administer first aid.

A short time later, Manor said another climber arrived on the scene and volunteered to help. So the pair decided it would be best for the second Good Samaritan to stay with Biddle while Manor went for help.

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Manor said the other climber was well trained in wilderness survival techniques and was the most experienced to remain with Biddle.

“Some people call it lucky.  I think I had somebody looking over my shoulder.  I can’t think of any other explanation,”

(KGW Reporter Mike Benner contributed to this report)