Government Camp, OR – A 27-year-old snowboarder who became disoriented in heavy snowfall while descending the west side of Mount Hood has been located by rescuers.nSearchers remained in contact with Brantley Acree III, formerly of Roanoke, Va., at various times through the night Sunday into Monday via cell phone. Monday morning, Acree reported hearing a KGW-TV news helicopter overhead, and an Oregon Army National Guard helicopter moved to the area and spotted Acree near treeline on the mountain’s west side.

Acree set out on Sunday from Timberline Lodge to reach the summit of Mount Hood and descend via snowboard. He telephoned friends at around 3:30 p.m. Sunday to report that he was lost, initiating a search effort that involved search and rescue volunteers from American Medical Response, Mountain Wave Communications, Pacific Northwest Search & Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, the Oregon Army National Guard and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Once located, Acree was airlifted to the command post set up in the parking lot of Timberline Lodge. Aside from being cold from his overnight ordeal, he was reported to be unharmed.