IDANHA, Ore. (KTVZ) -- An Idaho man on a solo climb of Mount Jefferson on Friday suffered a significant and likely fatal fall, prompting recovery efforts that continued Saturday in challenging terrain, Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan said.

Around 11:35 a.m. on Friday, the sheriff's office received a 911 call reporting that a climber had fallen on the 10,497-foot peak, Oregon's second-tallest, after Mount Hood.

The caller relayed a report from two climbers, who said they witnessed an unknown climber fall down the west side of the summit near the Red Saddle before disappearing from view into the Milk Creek drainage. The climber was described only as a male, possibly wearing a bright red jacket.

An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter launched to search the area and located what is believed to be the climber's backpack and other gear on the west side of the summit but was unable to locate the climber, the sheriff said.

Ground search and rescue teams were deployed and started to hike into the base of Mount Jefferson. By the time the teams were deployed, the decision was made to have the teams hike in as far as they could in the evening and make camp for the night, Duncan said. The teams planned to make the ascent at first light in the morning.

Shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday, the sheriff's office received a report of a missing person that had been climbing Mount Jefferson a day earlier and had missed scheduled check-ins with his wife, the sheriff said.

Investigators were able to confirm the backpack and gear recovered belonged to the missing person, identified as Jared John Empey, 37, of Kuna, Idaho. Jared was an experienced climber who had left to solo-summit Mount Jefferson.

"Based on witness observations, Jared’s fall was not survivable," Duncan said in a news release Saturday. "Currently, recovery efforts are continuing throughout the day. However, where Jared fell, recovery may not be possible."

The sheriff added, "The Linn County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Oregon Army National Guard, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Eugene Mountain Rescue, Idanha-Detroit Fire District and the U.S. Forest Service for their assistance."

"Our hearts and thoughts go out to Jared’s family and friends during this difficult time," Duncan said.