GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. -- Rescuers moved fast to take advantage of a break in the weather on Mt. Hood late Monday morning, ascending the mountain on foot and in a Blackhawk helicopter to search for two missing climbers after their friend was found dead over the weekend.
"It looks like we have a weather window, but we don't know how long it will last," search organizer and Clackamas County detective Jim Strovink told KGW.
Searchers found Luke T. Gullberg, 26, of Des Moines, Wash., on Saturday while searching an area in the 9,000-foot level called Reid Glacier.
Anthony Vietti, a 24-year-old from Longview, and 29-year-old Portlander Katie Nolan were still unaccounted for. The trio set out early Friday with plans to summit Mt. Hood and then return to Timberline by 2 p.m. that same afternoon. They were all experienced climbers and friends alerted authorities when they did not return as expected. PHOTOS: Climbers
Vietti's aunt, Teri Preiss thanked well-wishers across the country who held out hope that the pair would be found. She said the three were close friends who'd met at church - and that Luke Gullberg had "died as he lived, passionately giving his all."
"These three have summitted Mount Adams, summitted Mount Baker ... they are some of the strongest individuals I've ever met," she said.
Time critical in search
Rescuers said Vietti and Nolan could still be alive Monday but time was "critical" in finding and saving them. Scott Weishaar, a National Weather Service meteorologist assigned to the search effort, said a small "window of weather opportunity" for rescuers, may only last until about 4 p.m., Monday. PHOTOS: Helicopter search
"Where we're searching is a complex system of gullies and ridges. Each gully has the tendency to accumulate snow," said Steve Rollins, a Mountain Rescue specialist. "The dangers in this area [for the missing climbers and rescuers] include ... high avalanche danger, rock fall, ice fall. Anywhere on that face, there's the concern that someone would fall off the face of the mountain."
Nate Thompson, who was coordinating the rescue mission, said the focus would be above the 10,000-foot elevation. He also said they would continue to search "as long as we can."
The threat of avalanches forced teams who had been searching on foot back to base camp Saturday. And after that point, it was only safe for rescuers to take to the air, hoping to spot something that would help them pinpoint the remaining two climbers. If necessary, a rescuer could also be lowered down to the mountain with a stretcher. PHOTOS: Rescue effort
An Oregon National Guard Blackhawk helicopter searched from the air over the weekend, along with a Civil Air Patrol plane and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter equipped with thermal imaging cameras to detect body heat. On Monday, authorities said they may be able to use an unmanned aircraft drone for an added visual aid.
Climbers all experienced
A friend to the climbers told authorities they were "very experienced" in mountain climbing. Vietti is a member of Olympic Mountain Rescue, according to their website. The chaplain, Simons, said all three had extensive climbing experience.
Dennis Simons, a chaplain with the Sandy Fire and Police Department met with relatives of the three climbers. He said they were all devout Christians who "dedicated their lives serving and giving to others." Nolan has traveled worldwide, at one point helping to rescue young women from the slave trade, Simons said.
Of the three climbers, Gullberg was the most experienced. Relatives were helping his parents cope with the death of their son and praying that the other two would still be found alive, Simons said.
Gullberg's camera was found by rescuers on Saturday who said there were closeup photos of the three climbers, all smiling and having a good time. Rescuers said the images helped them narrow the search area. None of the climbers were carrying locator beacons or anything that would provide a signal with which to pinpoint their location, Strovink said.
Climbers had cell phone, no beacon
The three weekend climbers did have a cell phone that was briefly activated about 1:30 a.m. Friday as they were leaving Timberline Lodge to begin their ascent, Strovink said.
Steve Rollins of Portland Mountain Rescue said a locator beacon would have been helpful in this case but many rescuers oppose a mandate to carry them because they believe it will lead some climbers to take risks they otherwise would avoid. "And that increases the risks to rescuers," he said. Rollins noted that climbers often receive good signals on their cell phones on areas of the mountain but the phones sometimes lack enough power to send out a call or message.
"It's frustrating," Rollins said, "when you can see all the way to Salem or beyond and wonder how many cell tower sites are out there."
Deceased climber was officer's son
Luke Gullberg was the son of Washington State Patrol Ret. Sgt Rod Gullberg, who is a current civilian research analyst with the WSP
Luke Gullberg's Myspace site includes a blog with photographs of past climbs. He lists the Bible first as his favorite book and his heroes are his parents. His favorite Bible passage is Proverbs 4:23. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
Saturday, WSP leaders issued a statement, saying "Chief Batiste and all the members of the Washington State patrol send our deepest condolences to the Gullberg family. We know that Rod and Luke were close as father and son, and as climbing partners. Words can not express the sorrow we feel this evening."
Mt. Hood popular, but deadly
Mount Hood, the tallest mountain in Oregon, is a popular destination for climbers in the United States. In 25 years, it has been the site of dozens of climbing accidents and fatalities. The worst on record happened in May 1986 when nine people -- seven students from Oregon Episcopal School and two adults -- died after they dug a snow cave during a sudden storm.
The latest search comes almost exactly three years after another trio of experienced climbers died on Mount Hood during a December 2006 blizzard. The family of Kelly James, who was the only person in that climbing trio whose body was ever found, clung to their faith to get through the tragedy.
MORE: History of fatalities on Mount Hood
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
