MOUNT HOOD - A search and rescue operation is under way on Mount Hood after a report that three climbers who were part of an eight-person climbing party fell while on the mountain.

According to Jim Strovink with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, the climbing party ran into trouble around noon Sunday in the area of Illumination Saddle, which is around the 8,300-foot level of Mount Hood.

Three climbers fell over a ledge an undetermined distance and are not visible or in communication with the remaining members of the climbing party.

Each member of the climbing party is reportedly equipped with a Mountain Locator Unit (MLU), which is used to enable rescuers to pinpoint a climber's exact location if they find themselves in jeopardy.  They also have GPS devices and cell phones.

"They were well equipped and that is really enabling these rescue personnel to communicate with them and to identify precisely where they are.  That saves a lot of critical time and they are able to advance directly to that location to render aid," said Strovink.

Clackamas County Communications has been in cell phone contact with the climbing party and the information is being relayed to the search and rescue coordinators assembling on the mountain.

Whiteout conditions are reported on Mount Hood, which could make the rescue effort difficult.  A helicopter rescue is out of the question.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is coordinating the search and rescue mission with American Medical Response, Portland Mountain Rescue and Mountain Wave Communication Specialists.

This latest rescue effort comes on the heels of three other rescues on Mount Hood, including a high profile one in December where one climber was found dead and the two others who were with him were presumed dead following a nine-day search.

The body of 48-year-old Kelly James of Dallas, Texas was found inside a snow cave.  His two fellow climbers, 37-year-old Brian Hall of Dallas and 36-year-old Jerry "Nikko" Cooke of New York, were never found.

In late January, an Oregon National Guard helicopter hoisted 45-year-old Robin Merriam of Hood River off the mountain after she was struck by a large chunk of falling ice and suffered back and leg injuries.

In early February, 68-year-old Terry Cone of Lake Oswego broke his leg while climbing Mount Hood and a ground team from Portland Mountain Rescue helped get him off the mountain.