- Climbers Kelly James, 48, of Dallas, Brian Hall, 37, also of Dallas, and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke, 36, of New York City, leave a hand-written note at the Hood River Ranger station describing their planned route and the supplies they are carrying.

- The climbers park at Cooper Spur, leaving a second note in the windshield of their car describing their intention to climb Mt. Hood via the Cooper Spur route. Then they descend the south side to Timberline Lodge. The note includes their expected return date.

- The climbers sign the guest book at the Tilly Jane Hut, where they spend the night.

- Friday, Dec 8. – After a series of clear weather days, the first of many storms moves in. According to authorities, the climbers successfully reach the summit of Mt. Hood Friday, but in stormy weather may not have been able to find the “Pearly Gates” the route from the summit down to Timberline lodge. Instead, the climbers build a snow cave about 300 feet below the summit on the NE side of the mountain, where authorities believe they spent Friday night.

- Saturday, Dec. 9 - Kelly James remains in the snow cave while his two climbing partners set out for help.

- Sunday, Dec. 10 - Kelly James makes a cell phone call home. During the four-minute call, he speaks to his wife and two sons. He says he is in a snow cave. He gives the impression that he was having some kind of difficulty, and that the other two climbers had set out for help. It is the last time his family will speak to him.

- Sunday, Dec. 10 – The climbers are overdue and search efforts begin in earnest, but are hampered by stormy weather.

- Monday, Dec. 11 - A series of calls and text messages are sent to Kelly James’ cell phone but no response is received.

- Tues, Dec. 12 - At 1:51 a.m., the last signal is received from Kelly James’ cell phone. Storms on the mountain continue to prevent rescuers from searching for the missing climbers.

- Wednesday, Dec. 13 – Rescue teams are unable to search above Timberline due to severe weather conditions.

- Thursday, Dec 14 – A private company offers the use of high-tech drones to search for missing climbers but high winds prevent launch of the drones. Rescue climbers are unable to search above Timberline due to severe weather conditions.

- Friday, Dec. 15 – A C-130 “Hercules” aircraft from Reno, NV joins the search effort. Drones also are employed but the lenses quickly fog up. High winds continue to inhibit the search and no signs are reported of the missing climbers.

- Saturday, Dec. 16 – For the first time in more than a week, the weather clears. The C-130 Hercules and several Blackhawk helicopters circle the mountain, searching for evidence of the three missing climbers.

- Sunday, Dec. 17 – From the air, searchers spot climbing gear and an elite rescue team is lowered by air onto the summit of Mt. Hood. They locate a snow cave 300 feet below the summit of the mountain. The cave is empty except for some climbing supplies: a pair of ice axes, a foam pad, and some climbing rope. Authorities believe all three climbers spent the night of Friday, December 9th in this cave. A short time later, searchers locate a second cave and locate the body of a climber inside, later identified as Kelly James.

- Monday, Dec. 18 – A recovery team airlifts the body of Kelly James from Mt. Hood. Searchers focus their attention on the icy, steep 60-degree pitch of the Eliot Glacier, where they believe the remaining two climbers may have tried to retrace their route in order to head back down the mountain.

- Tuesday, Dec. 19 - Photos taken by a camera found with the body of Kelly James lead searchers to conclude the climbers did not have enough gear with them to survive an extended stay on the mountain. Avalanche danger forces teams to limit their efforts to an aerial search.

- Wednesday, Dec. 20 - Shortly before noon, Sheriff Wampler announces an end to the search for the two climbers still missing. An autopsy reveals that Kelly James died from hypothermia and was suffering from dehydration, but did not have a dislocated shoulder, as previously reported, or other injuries that would have revented mobility.