Climber dies after 300-foot fall from mountain into rocky ravine, Oregon cops say
UPDATE: The body of 21-year-old Joel Tranby of Bend was spotted on July 20 from a helicopter, according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. His body has not been recovered yet because of “extremely loose and steep rocky terrain.”
The original story is below.
A climber disappeared after plunging 300 to 500 feet from an Oregon mountain and into a rocky ravine, rescuers said.
Joel Tranby, 21, was climbing North Sister with his girlfriend when he fell at about 12:18 p.m. on July 17, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said in a release and KTVZ reported.
His girlfriend called for help, but she could not see where he had fallen because of the “extremely steep and rocky terrain,” deputies said.
Tranby was able to talk but stopped responding before rescuers got to the mountain, deputies said.
Rescuers started searching the area by helicopter because it is “extremely dangerous and inaccessible.”
They said Tranby likely fell into a ravine that has “unstable” boulders.
Search efforts continued a day after he fell, but there haven’t been any signs of him.
Now rescuers will analyze photos “utilizing specialized software to attempt to detect possible clues.”
April Tranby and her husband, David, said in a statement to KTVZ they believe their son died after the fall and that they “are thankful for the efforts of Lane and Deschutes County SARs, Civil Air Patrol, law enforcement, friends and family both local and around the world, and Foundry Church for supporting us and seeking to bring Joel home.”
North Sister is part of the Three Sisters mountain range in Central Oregon.
This story was originally published July 19, 2023 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Climber dies after 300-foot fall from mountain into rocky ravine, Oregon cops say."
