SMITH ROCK STATE PARK, Ore. (Mar 24, 2026) — Two climbers stranded on a narrow ledge nearly 400 feet above the ground were safely rescued after a complex overnight operation at Smith Rock State Park, authorities said.
Volunteers with the Deschutes County Search and Rescue were activated around 8 p.m. Monday after two men in their late 20s became stuck while descending a route on the park’s west side known to climbers as “Wherever I May Roam.”
The climbers, visiting from Eugene and Salem, began their climb around noon and paused at times to allow other climbers to pass. During their rappel, their ropes became lodged in rocks, leaving them unable to continue downward.
Due to the technical nature of the situation, search and rescue crews deployed several of their most experienced volunteer climbers. The operation required navigating steep, exposed terrain in darkness, with cold nighttime conditions adding to the difficulty.
Rescuers reached the stranded climbers, secured them on ropes and safely lowered them to the base of the route. The rescue was completed around 1 a.m. Tuesday.
Neither climber was injured, though both were cold and unprepared for the drop in temperature overnight, officials said.
Authorities said the incident underscores the expertise and dedication of search and rescue volunteers, whose advanced climbing skills and willingness to operate in hazardous conditions contributed to the successful outcome.
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