Christopher Van Tilburg, M.D.


I am a member of Crag Rats Mountain Rescue, in Hood River, Oregon. Started in 1927, Crag Rats is the oldest mountain rescue unit in the nation. We respond to all sorts of incidents: lost or injured hikers in the Columbia River Gorge and injured climbers on Mount Hood are most common.

In addition, I serve as medical committee member for the national organization, Mountain Rescue Association.



I'm also an active member of Wilderness Medical Society, a group of medical professionals devoted to all aspects of medicine in remote and wild environments.

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Images from mountain rescue missions

Sometimes, we wait. Here, our crew is assembling at the clinic at the ski resort on Mount Hood, waiting to head up the mountain.

My fellow Crag Rat and I are using the mountain locator unit to locate lost climbers, just before midnight, 7,000 feet on Mount Hood.

One July we rescued a hiker stranded on Newton Creek near Mount Hood.

At least a half dozen rescues every summer come from Eagle Creek Trail in the heart of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area.

Difficult terrain with multiple agencies comlicated this mission. I'm in the yellow backpack, as always.

I rappelled deep into the White Salmon River canyon to reach this patient, precariously pearched on a log jam. With help from the Army helicopter crew, we did a difficult helicopter hoist.

Members of my unit secure the scene of a plane crash on Viento Ridge in the Columbia River Gorge.

Our unit often responds to deep canyons. Here we are doing a technical rope extrication. I'm at the bottom of the ropes with my colleagues rescuing a hiker that tumbled off the cliff.

We respond to the mountains year round. This summer carry out on Mount Hood's Timberline Trail was over rugged terrain. This is crossing the Eliot Glacier terminal moraine. You can spot me with the yellow backpack.

Our rescue base on Mount Hood's north side is Cloud Cap Inn, elevation 6,000 feet. Built in 1889, it is fully restored. This is our snow cat which we use to access the mountains in winter.

Every month our unit practices rescue techniques. Here we are climbing up the Eliot Glacier on Mount Hood in August to practice crevasse rescue.

Formed in 1927, Crag Rats Mountain Rescue is the oldest unit of its kind in the US.

Mountain rescue is a lot of work and a lot of fun. This is our training ground, Eliot Glacier on Mount Hood's north side on a beautiful summer day.