BEND, Ore. — A 21-year-old college student has died after falling hundreds of feet down a steep, rocky ravine near the summit of North Sister in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains.
Joel Tranby loved the outdoors and was a big part of the community in the city of Bend, according to people who knew him, and his parents say they’re “devastated by the loss,” KTVZ-TV reported Wednesday. He helped coach his former high school’s Nordic Ski Team and was planning to graduate college in December.
Rescue teams called off the search and were working to locate and recover the body, Lane County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tom Speldrich said in a statement Wednesday.
North Sister rises 10,085 feet (3,074 meters) and is known as a difficult climb because of the loose volcanic rock that makes up the mountainside and the lack of places to anchor ropes for protection, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
While climbing with his girlfriend on Monday, Tranby fell about 300 to 500 feet (90-150 meters) and was severely injured.
His girlfriend was able to use her phone to call for help but couldn’t see where Tranby had landed, Speldrich said.
“Unfortunately, he stopped responding verbally before searchers arrived,” Speldrich said.
The rescue effort included an Oregon National Guard Blackhawk helicopter, mountain rescue teams, a high-resolution camera and even a small drone.
The area where he fell is inaccessible on foot, and “future plans will be dependent upon the data analysis and resource availability,” Speldrich said.
Tranby’s parents, April and David, expressed gratitude to the search crews who tried to find their son, KTVZ-TV reported.
“Joel was doing something he loved, with the person he loved, in the outdoors and we know that brought him joy,” the parents’ statement said.
