Coast Guard rescues climbers in Skamania County

The Coast Guard rescued a 16-year-old injured Washougal climber early Saturday morning after a 50-foot fall off a cliff-side near Archer Mountain in western Skamania County.

The boy was accompanied by another 16-year-old boy who was not injured but also stranded.

The injured boy was at first in critical condition but improved to satisfactory Saturday, said an official at PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center.

Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Ore., launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Ore., at approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday.

At 11:05 p.m., the helicopter crew arrived and lowered a rescuer to assess the situation.

Skamania County officials were on scene but could not reach the two climbers due to the difficult terrain.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. the two climbers were hoisted on board the helicopter and transported to PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver.

Vancouver Heavy Rescue 5 and its crew also responded.

The climbers were not named.

Archer Mountain is on Smith-Cripe Road, east of Cape Horn.