Camas man hurt in climbing accident

A Camas man was among two climbers rescued from Mount Stuart in the Cascade Range after he suffered a life-threatening injury in a fall caused by a boulder that broke free.

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said Jim Schiller, 59, of Happy Valley, Ore., called authorities Sunday evening saying his climbing partner had been leaning on a rock that dislodged, causing him to fall nearly 50 feet.

Tim Pate, 64, of Camas was unresponsive when Schiller traversed down to him, the sheriff’s office said.

A Naval Air Base helicopter from Whidbey Island was requested by the sheriff’s office, and crews hoisted Pate into the aircraft Sunday night.

The sheriff’s office said Pate was unconscious and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he remained in critical condition Wednesday.

Schiller called authorities Monday saying he was exhausted and later was also rescued by a Navy helicopter.