PORTLAND, Ore. -- Friends and family members remember a Portland climber lost on Mount Hood as a woman who lived a life of adventure and compassion for others.
A memorial service Tuesday in Portland for 29-year-old Katie Nolan was the third and final public farewell for the trio of climbers who left Dec. 11 on a technical Mt. Hood summit attempt, and never returned. More: Tragedy takes 3 Mt. Hood climbers
A massive search and rescue mission was undertaken to find the climbers, who had registered to summit via the Reid Glacier route. The body 26-year-old Luke Gullberg of Des Moines, Wash., was found near the glacier Saturday, Dec. 12.
Five days of blizzard-like conditions and difficult terrain hindered attempts to rescue the two missing climbers. On Wednesday, Dec. 16, Katie's father, David Nolan, joined the father of 25-year-old Anthony Vietti of Longview, Wash. in calling off the search.
Their bodies had not been recovered in time for their memorial services.
Katie Nolan grew up in the Walla Walla, Wash. area but had made Portland home. By all accounts she enjoyed a spiritual connection to the environment - specifically, the Cascade Mountains - that was only surpassed by her connection with her faith.
Speakers at the SE Portland Foursquare Church services recalled her extensive travels and outdoor exploits that included climbing the tallest of Northwest peaks.
Nolan was a tireless advocate for those less fortunate, according to her employer and friends. She worked with homeless women and at-risk youth in Portland, David Nolan said.
Friends described her as fiercely devoted, sweet, ambitious and motivated. A tribute to Katie's life had sprung up on the social networking site Ning, and as of Tuesday nearly 50 friends, family and even strangers had contributed.
