After the Fall

Two Oregon members went up a mountain as teachers— and came down with national headlines heralding their return.

Just a few weeks after their rescue, Bryant, who trains and mentors special education teachers, and Hanlon, an English teacher, returned to the classroom.

“It was very emotional at first,” Bryant says. “I cried a lot when I saw friends and colleagues, realizing how much of an impact this incident had on so many people.”

The duo and Velvet spent time visiting classrooms, talking about mountain safety and the volunteers from Portland Mountain Rescue, whom Bryant calls “incredible.” Also incredible? Velvet, whom rescuers credit for helping save the climbers as she lay across them during the frigid night. The certified therapy dog, whom Bryant found wandering in the desert outside of Las Vegas on a hike years ago, will continue to work with students with behavioral issues. (She reinforces lessons on positive and negative behavior.) Bryant runs Velvet’s new Web site—www.missvelvet.net —detailing the Mount Hood trip and raising money for the search and rescue groups that helped bring him and Hanlon home.

—MELISSA KEY