Climber killed on 3-Finger Jack

Sheriff Bruce Riley reports that on September 20, at 2:10 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff's Office 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from a mountain climber reporting that a climber had fallen while climbing Three Finger Jack. The caller said he and his climbing partner heard another climber, Corey Franklin, 23, from Bend, calling for help.

The two climbers made contact with Franklin and he told them his climbing partner Tyler Jeffery Heilman, 22, from Bend, had fallen from the northwest side of Three Finger Jack near the summit, while mountain climbing.

The initial investigation reveals Heilman and Franklin were climbing at approximately 7,700 foot elevation when Heilman, who was not roped in, fell 500 to 600 feet to his death at approximately 1:50 p.m.

Linn County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue coordinated a search for Heilman with the Oregon Air National Guard. Last night at approximately 6:43 p.m., an Oregon Air National Guard helicopter crew reported they had located Heilmans body.

Due to approaching darkness, hazardous conditions and rugged terrain, the extraction of Heilman's body will resume today. Linn County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue will be coordinating the recovery effort with Corvallis Mountain Rescue.

Image above: Three Finger Jack.