PORTLAND, Ore. - In January of 1976, three teens headed for a routine climb to the summit of Mount Hood.

Nearly two weeks later and 30 pounds lighter, they walked unaided back into the arms of family at Timberline Lodge after becoming stranded on the mountain by a raging blizzard.

The story is part of Mount Hood lore.

Thirty years later, Randy Knapp, now a part-time pastor and finish carpenter living in Medford, recalls the harrowing adventure in an interview with KDRV television.

Knapp says he thinks the three climbers now stranded on storm-ravaged Mount Hood will survive their ordeal since they were more experienced than he and his friends were. His advice to the climbers, their families and rescuers? "Don't give up."

Knapp says the shelter of a snow cave and faith in God pulled his group through, and he added that he thinks the group could have survived another week if need be.

Knapp says he is still in intermittent contact with his fellow climbers from 1976, Gary Schneider and Matt Meacham.

He says he still remembers the hunger and the cold of the experience.