Crag Rat Forever
He has led mountain rescue on Mount Hood for nearly three decades. His new book tells the tales.
- Story by Nicholas O'Connell
A QUICK READ through the newspaper might lead you to wonder if altruism is dead. But Christopher Van Tilburg’s new book, Crisis on Mount Hood: Stories from 100 Years of Mountain Rescue, illustrates that altruism is alive and well in this part of the Cascade Range.
Van Tilburg ’88 shares tales from his 27 years of experience with the Hood River Crag Rats, the oldest mountain rescue team in the US, established in 1926. He highlights the team’s distinct approach to mountain rescue, emphasizing the flexibility and dedication of its volunteers.
“I wanted to tell the story of this team,” he says. “It’s an avocation of passion. We do this because we love it. We thrive on it. We hate missing rescues. It wouldn’t be the same if we were paid. It would be hard to have the same commitment and dedication.”
The Crag Rats primarily focus on Mount Hood, one of the most-climbed glaciated peaks in the world. It’s very accessible and very crowded, which can lead to trouble.
“It’s an hour from 3 million people,” he said. “You can drive a car to 6,000 feet. It’s very beautiful. We have other more dangerous mountains, but the sheer number of people who climb Mount Hood make it dangerous.”
After graduating from University of Portland with a degree in science communications, Van Tilburg enrolled in medical school at the University of Washington. While there, he came across the Journal of Wilderness Medicine, which convinced him to pursue a career in that field.
He credits his time at University of Portland with providing skills in science writing, essential to his current role as a public health officer for Hood River County. UP also encouraged lifelong learning, which has influenced his parenting, medical practice, and devotion to the Crag Rats. “I will never not be a Crag Rat,” he says.
NICHOLAS O’CONNELL is the author of The Storms of Denali and teaches for www.thewritersworkshop.net.