Video: Oregon doctor dies on Mount Hood

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HOOD RIVER, Ore. - A 55-year-old man who had scaled Mount Hood by one of its most challenging routes died after being hit by a falling rock, authorities said.

Hood River County Sheriff Joseph Wampler identified the climber as Gary Lee, a doctor and avid climber from Eugene, Ore. Lee was reportedly part of a climbing party on the Cooper Spur Route.

Lee had descended to about 9,000 feet on the 11,239-foot peak. A small rock dislodged and caused Wampler's initial fall. According to Wampler, Lee slid on the snow and was unable to stop his fall. From there he impacted a rock and ice field.

A group of 13 or so mountaineers set out to climb Mount Hood early Monday to retrieve Lee's body. They were having trouble getting to the body because the area is a vertical sheet of rock and ice, requiring a very technical recovery.

NWCN / Willamette Valley Cancer Center

Dr. Gary Lee was the Medical Director of Hospice at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Ore.

Steve Rollins of Portland Mountain Rescue said he expected the recovery effort to last until Tuesday or later.

Once the mountaineers see firsthand the loose rocks and softening snow that mark Mount Hood climbing in the summer, the mountaineers will decide how to get the body down, he said.

Falling rock on the volcanic peak will pose a threat to the recovery party, Rollins said. "In many cases the rock is glued together with ash the consistency of toothpaste," he said.

The area in which the climber died is described as vertical snow, ice and rock near the Elliot Glacier.

The climber's body was spotted Sunday evening by helicopter crews from the Oregon National Guard.

Dr. Gary Lee was the Medical Director of Hospice at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene and chairman of the Bioethics Committee at Sacred Heart.

In December 2006, climber Kelly James of Texas, Brian Hall of Texas and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke of New York vanished while climbing the same route on Mount Hood in December 2006.

After bad weather closed in, Hall and Cooke left James in a snow cave to seek help for James, who was injured. James' body was later found in a snow cave 300 feet below the summit.  He died of hypothermia.  Hall and Cooke were never seen again.