GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. -- A climber fell to his death on Mt. Hood Thursday morning and crews were working to recover his body off the mountain, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
Ward Milo Maxfield, 66, slid 200 to 400 feet and landed in an area called Hot Rocks just before 9:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Nathan Thompson with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
Photos: Climber who fell on Mt. Hood
Witnesses called 911 and reported seeing the climber fall on the west side of the mountain, in an area known as Hogsback, near the 10,500-foot level.
"Hot Rocks is west of the Hogsback, and is an active fumarole zone that is not covered in snow," Thompson said. "There were three other people in the climbing party. Ward Maxfield was reportedly about 20 yards ahead of the group when he fell."
Maxfield's 17-year-old grandson was in the climbing party, Thompson said.
Other climbers told KGW Maxfield's grandson rushed to his side and gave him CPR for 30 minutes, until help arrived, but he still could not be saved.
Maxfield was described as an experienced hiker who ran marathons and was in good physical condition. He was from Paul, Idaho.
The cause of the fall and his exact cause of death remains under investigation.
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