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Hood River News Editorial
August 23, 2006
A car crashed into a Pine Grove farm building Sunday. Here’s hoping
the historic Lage barn can be restored and put back into use.
Not far up the road rests the Crag Rat Hut, home to the nation’s
oldest mountain rescue group.
It seems as if even the fixing of a barn is rescue the hardy and
multi-skilled Crag Rats could accomplish, and many of the Pine
Grove-based members likely will help out on that project.
The group’s familiar black-and-white checked shirts belie Crag Rats’
colorful history, entertainingly described on page B1 in an article by
Esther K. Smith.
This week marks the 80th anniversary of the Crag Rats. Our
congratulations to this inveterate organization that gives so much to
the community. The community, for the Crag Rats, goes beyond Hood
River County and its residents and takes in the region’s recreation
areas and those who use them.
Their rescue efforts aren’t necessarily limited to the mountainside;
frequently in recent years the Crag Rats have been called upon to use
their remarkable climbing skills to rescue cliff divers from the
frigid waters of area streams. Crag Rats were even called on to rope
an injured felony suspect out of a brambly Indian Creek ravine after
tumbling down the incline in a police chase.
In eight decades, the volunteer mountaineers have conducted
innumerable rescues, sponsored community events, and taken loving care
of the historic Cloud Cap Inn.
With their long-standing, humble service, Crag Rats are classic Hood
River: As a group they are certainly a defining element in our past,
present, and future. |
