YACOLT, Wash. - Rescue crews gathered near the base of Mt. St. Helens Tuesday, hoping for a chance to rescue a hiker that had fallen into the live volcano after a cornice he was standing on gave way and he tumbled down a steep slope into the massive crater.
On Tuesday, officials at the Skamania County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the climber was Joseph Bohlig, 52, of Kelso, Washington.
Weather Tuesday morning hampered efforts as snow was falling and fog limited visibility. However, the weather was expected to lift a bit later in the day, perhaps allowing crews to attempt an extraction.
Rescue efforts had to be called off Monday evening due to high winds and poor conditions. A rescuer who was lowered to the bottom of the crater was not able to climb up to the Bohlig's location. A Coast Guard helicopter could not lower a rescue basket to the man due to high winds.
A helicopter from JL Aviation responded to the area and located Bohlig on a 45-degree snow slope near the bottom of the crater but could not retrieve him. Bohlig fell about 1,500 vertical feet down the steep slope.
Bohlig's medical condition is unknown although he was blowing an emergency whistle after his fall Monday. Helicopter pilots said they spotted Bohlig but reported they did not see him moving.
Fellow climbers report that Bohlig was standing on a cornice to have his photo taken when he fell. Bohlig was an experienced climber but reportedly was not dressed for the cold conditions expected overnight Monday.
It was reportedly Bohlig 68th time hiking to the crater rim, a climb that can be accomplished without specialized equipment.
Resources from the North Country EMS Volcano Rescue Team have been mobilized to the area.
At approximately 1 p.m. Monday the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office received information on a 911 cell phone call that originated with the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon which was transferred to Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.
The cell phone connection quality was said to be "very poor" and the reporting party said a climber had fallen into the crater at Mount St. Helens and then the call was dropped.
The connection was re-established and information was received that the climber was approximately five feet from the edge on a cornice when it collapsed. Rescue efforts then commenced.
Mt. St. Helens erupted with the force of several atomic bombs in 1980 after it suddenly became active following a long dormant period stretching back almost 150 years. The eruption blew off the top of the volcano, devastated the area around the once placid snow-cone shaped mountain and killed 57 people.
It has been undergoing low-level eruptions and lava dome building ever since. Mt. St. Helens is part of the Cascade chain of volcanoes and is part of the larger Pacific rim "Ring of Fire."
Not dressed warmly? Dude is obviously a Friend Of Chucky.
Rumor has it that Bohlig is a virgin, and his companions tossed him in to ward off evil from the U&L... if JMak packs his shit and leaves, it was obviously a success.
