Portland climber, 35, is 'lucky to be alive' after falling 15 feet into snow covered volcano vent on Mt. Hood before being rescued by quick-thinking bystander

A Portland woman who fell 15 feet into a fumarole while climbing an active volcano in Oregon says she's lucky to be alive, thanks to the quick thinking actions of an eagle-eyed bystander.

Caroline Sundbaum, 35, had been climbing with her husband in the Devil's Kitchen Area of Mt. Hood on Friday afternoon when the terrifying incident unfolded.

Sunbaum, standing at an elevation of around 11,200 feet, decided to sit down on her pack and rest on the mountain side, waiting for her husband and friend to return from the summit so they could ski back down together.

But suddenly the snow collapsed beneath her and she fell 15 feet into a fumarole - a vent in the side of a volcano - with the impact dislocating her shoulder.  

'The sensation was like someone pulling a chair out from under you,' Sundbaum told Good Morning America. 

'I was terrified that the snow was going to fall in on me and suffocate me.' 

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Caroline Sundbaum, 35, had been skiing with her husband in the Devil's Kitchen Area of Mt. Hood on Friday afternoon when the terrifying incident unfolded

She had laid down her pack to rest when suddenly the snow gave way beneath her and she fell 15 foot into a fumarole , which is a vent in the side of a volcano that can omit potentially deadly fumes

While her husband and their friend were still at the summit of Mt. Hood, thankfully for Sundbaum, a nearby climber had seen her sit down to take a rest and noticed that she'd disappeared.

As the climber got closer to investigate further, he noticed there was a hole in the snow where Sundbaum had been sat. 

'He heard me. He sort of yelled at me to see how I was doing, asked me if I was breathing,' she told KPTV. 'I said I was breathing, he said hang tight I need to get a rope and anchor myself in.'

The air inside fumaroles can be toxic and potentially deadly, so Sundbaum and her rescuer were in a race against time. 

The climber quickly located a rope in his backpack and secured it around himself, before lowering it down to Sundbaum and hoisting her out from the cavity. 

Sundbaum had been sat waiting for her husband to return from the summit when she fell into the fumarole on Friday afternoon

The area of Devil’s Kitchen’s where the fall took place , White River Canyon, has an elevation of about 11,200 feet

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office arrived on scene shortly afterwards, as did members of the Portland Mountain Rescue team.

With assistance, Sundbaum was able to make her way to a nearby lift before seeking medical treatment.  

The sheriff's office said it's incredibly fortunate that the climber witnessed the 35-year-old's fall, as 'it would have been extremely difficult to locate Sundbaum otherwise.'

Experts say fumaroles are hard to track and detect and can often show up unexpectedly. 

The area of Devil’s Kitchen’s where the fall took place, White River Canyon, has an elevation of about 11,200 feet. Rescue officials said the fumarole Sundbaum fell into was not widely known among climbers.

'After heavy snow, the fumaroles can be hidden by a snow blanket,' CCSO said. 'Hot gases from the fumaroles melt the deeper snow and create large cavities hidden under the surface snow.'

A self-described frequent skier and climber, Sundbaum said she's also grateful that she wore a helmet and crampons

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said it's incredibly fortunate that the climber witnessed the 35-year-old's fall. as 'it would have been extremely difficult to locate Sundbaum otherwise'

Officials added that the cavities can range from a few feet to 20 feet deep. If a climber were to walk on the roof of a fumarole, the climber could easily break through the surface snow and fall in.

A self-described frequent skier and climber, in addition to the gratitude she has for her rescuer, she's also thankful she took all necessary safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet and crampons.

'If I hadn't been wearing a helmet, I wouldn't have been in the right state to get myself out of there,' she told GMA.  

Mt. Hood is an active volcano with many small fumaroles. CCSO said they can best be detected by the 'rotten-egg' odor they omit and encourage climbers to avoid fumarole areas.