Stranded cell tower workers rescued from Steens Mountain
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Four cellphone tower workers stranded since Saturday in foul weather on Steens Mountain have been rescued.
Harney County's search and rescue coordinator, Matt Fine, said Tuesday they were being transported down to a command post where coffee, doughnuts and sandwiches awaited.
He said all four were reported in good health, and an ambulance on standby wouldn't be needed.
After their vehicle got stuck, the four took refuge at about 9,000 feet in a concrete block structure at the base of a tower. They had a generator, heat, electricity, food and water, and weren't considered in immediate jeopardy.
Fine said there was a brief break in the weather Tuesday morning, and it took a crew of seven snowmobiles and a tracked snow vehicle about 45 minutes to get to the workers.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Glad they are down off the mountain and OK..! Â :-)
I deer hunted there this year. Very beautiful, but steep as heck.
That place is scary at night in a storm. My wife and daughter and I got caught in one and static electricity started sparking like St. Elmo's fire off the ridgepole of our little tent right above our heads. Yikes.Glad they're alright!