TIMBERLINE LODGE, Ore. — Survivors of a deadly mountaineering accident stood Friday on the summit of Mount Hood after reprising the ascent of a year ago that claimed the lives of three fellow climbers.
The group silently scattered yellow rose petals into the wind — fulfilling a wish of the dead climbers' families — and read a poem before making their descent.
"When we released the petals, they looked like doves flying in the wind," said Cleve Joiner, who reached the summit of the mountain with his son.
During the ill-fated climb last May, nine people were swept into a hole of blue ice 25 feet deep by climbers above them who lost their footing and tumbled downhill.
Among those who tumbled into the crevasse were three members of the group that successfully reattempted the climb Friday. Those climbers survived, but three others died and three were seriously injured. Later, a helicopter crashed during a dramatic rescue attempt captured on live television.
On Friday, the focus was on the present — and on completing a challenge the group set for itself months ago.
"It was awesome," said Selena Maestas, who reached the summit for the first time. "I can't even describe it — just the fact that I made it and made it safely is so wonderful."
The mountain did not temper its mood for the climbers, who from their 3 a.m. start encountered rain, fog, wind, thunder and lightning.
By the time the climbers reached the summit more than four hours later, thick clouds surrounded the mountain and visibility had dropped to 10 feet.
Electricity from the hovering storm made the air hum with static — so much so that the climbers' ice axes and metal stakes began to vibrate. They rested just five minutes on the mountaintop before heading down.
"The static electricity at the summit was kind of freaky," said Cole Joiner, 15, one of those was fell into the crevasse last year. "The chances of getting hit by lightning were really high."
Far below, at Timberline Lodge, the dead climbers' families held a private memorial with bagpipe music and a chaplain.