A man was air-lifted to the hospital Monday after he and two women fell "several hundred" feet at Hogsback on Mount Hood earlier in the day.

The three climbers were safely transported off the mountain just after 4 p.m., according to reports from several media at the scene. All of the climbers sustained injuries in the fall, Portland Mountain Rescue leader Steve Rollins said.

Portland Mountain Rescue officials began recovery efforts just after 9 a.m. The organization was already in the area performing exercises for its Ready Team, which teaches safe climbing techniques, among other things.

Rollins said the climbers fell just ahead of him — the rescue team was dispatched within minutes.

Falling rocks and ice gave the rescue an increasing sense of urgency as the day progressed.

"This was a case where if we didn't move the patients, they could have sustained a lot more injuries," Rollins said.

The injured man was sent to OHSU Hospital because of back, stomach and shoulder injuries, KOIN reports. Several media at the scene reported the two women arrived at Timberline Lodge aboard a Snowcat just before 5 p.m.

Mt. Hood mission wrapping up. all 3 injured climbers rescued. 1 was taken to a local hospital by National Guard Helicopter, the other 2 are at Timberline Lodge being checked out. Rescue teams are picking up equipment and headed down. pic.twitter.com/YuEagGFHoX — Mountain Wave SAR (@MountainWaveSAR) May 28, 2018

This is the second mountain rescue officials have mounted in three days.

On Saturday, rescuers retrieved another injured climber from the Hogsback area of Mount Hood -- nearly 10 hours after the first report of the incident had come in. The 35-year-old man had fallen nearly 200 feet, and rescue attempts were hampered by high winds, the Clackamas Sheriff's Office said.

Back in February, a fall in the same area killed one man and left several others stranded.

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344

ecampuzano@oregonian.com