|
|
|
DEM #99-0647 April 7, 1999 |
The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 10:00 A,M, on Wednesday April 7th . King County Police had requested 6 Tacoma Mountain Rescue volunteers to help in the search for three lost climbers on Snoqualmie Pass. Four members responded: Mike Mixon, Rick Wire, Cheryl Wells and Ron Lanhelm.
The three climbers had set out to climb Chair Peak on the north side of the Pass in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. When they had not returned as scheduled on Tuesday night a search was started the following morning at 4:00 A.M. with units from Seattle Mountain Rescue Council and the Ski Patrol Avalanche Rescue Team.
The three climbers had made it to the summit of Chair Peak, but had then become surrounded by a thick fog that made climbing back down extremely hazardous. They decided to wait until the fog cleared to climb down.
They were spotted by the King County Police Guardian One helicopter around noon Wednesday on the trail to the pass. The teams from Seattle MRC and the Ski Patrol were told to rendezvous with them and escort them down. The TMRU team being the freshest team was sent in to escort them the final distance to the trailhead. Everyone returned to Tacoma Wednesday night.
Lee Tegner provided bus service between search base and the trailhead. Bill Weber drove the Unit truck.
Tacoma Mountain Rescue |
 |