Mount Hood Climb
The 1986 Mount Hood Climb
On May 12, 1986, a group of students and adults from Oregon Episcopal School set out to climb Mount Hood as part of the school’s Basecamp outdoor education program. The climb was intended as a culminating experience focused on challenge, teamwork, and personal growth.
During the ascent, weather conditions deteriorated rapidly. A severe storm overtook the group high on the mountain, forcing some members to seek emergency shelter in a snow cave. Rescue efforts extended over several days in extremely difficult conditions.
Nine members of the OES community—seven students and two adults—lost their lives. Others survived, some with lasting injuries. The impact of that day continues to be felt by families, classmates, and the broader school community.
The tragedy profoundly shaped our community and remains an enduring part of our history. This page seeks to share the story of the climb with care, honor those who were lost, and recognize the lasting impact on those who continue to carry it.
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Mount Hood Climb Inquiries
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View the Special Collection
To see a collection of original materials related to the Mount Hood Climb, including the memory books, newspaper clippings, and other materials, please use this form to request an appointment to visit campus.
The Mount Hood Climbers
A History of Outdoor Education at OES
Basecamp was first established as a program at Oregon Episcopal School in the 1970s as an experiential education program grounded in the belief that meaningful learning happens beyond the classroom. Inspired in part by the Outward Bound model, it was created to help students build confidence, resilience, judgment, and a deeper sense of responsibility to one another through shared outdoor experiences.
At its core, Basecamp used the outdoors to foster self-awareness, teamwork, service, leadership, and respect for the natural world. Over time, it evolved into a four-year program, with each grade participating in a distinct experience in the Oregon wilderness, from retreats and backpacking trips to trail-building and mountain travel. The sophomore Mount Hood program, added during the 1977–78 school year, grew from that same philosophy: the experience was intended to emphasize personal challenge, preparation, sound judgment, and shared effort, rather than simply reaching the summit.
For many years, Basecamp was a defining part of the OES experience and reflected the school’s broader commitment to whole-person education. It encouraged students to support one another, face uncertainty with courage, and discover strengths they may not have known they had. That legacy remains an important part of our history, and lives on today in the school’s Experiential Education program.
Timeline of the Tragedy
Response to Tragedy
Remembering the Climb
