Search for Lost Climber on the Muir Snow Field DEM #99-0975 May 16, 1999

The unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management on Sunday the 16^th of May at 11:09 P.M.. They had received a request from Mt. Rainier National Park for ten mountain rescue volunteers. The search was for a lost climber John Repka, 51, who was last seen on the Muir snowfield at 8,000 feet just above Pebble Creek. John was with a climbing group of around 40 people from a climbing club called One Step at a Time.

A callout was made and ten members responded they were: Gus Bush, Talls Abollns, Jeff Richie, John Kirkman, Marcus Collins, Ken Capron, Adam Pope, William O'Brien, Wyatt Ryan and Kieth O'Grady. They were to meet at the Cache Monday morning at 6:00 A.M. or at the Longmire Ranger Station at 8:00 A.M.

After arriving at the Park they were briefed by Chief Ranger John Wilcox. Along with two members from Seattle Mountain Rescue and two Park Rangers they would comprise four teams. One team would search the Nisqually moraine down to the Nisqually Bridge. The next and largest team would climb up above the point last seen and sweep down the snow field toward Panorama Point. The two rangers would go straight up the Edith Creek Drainage to Panorama Point and the last team would climb Mazama Ridge to the Edith Creek drainage. Though most of the teams searched for over seven hours in sometimes whiteout conditions no sign of Mr Repka was found.

The search continued on Tuesday with two TMRU members participating they were: Stan Kartes and Marcus Collins. With ten members from the Seattle Mountain Rescue Council and Park Rangers they searched the Edith Creek drainage from the Golden Gate to the Stevens Creek drainage. On Wednesday five more members participated: John Miner, Tom Miner. Ken Capron, Alan Givotovsky and Kate Roberts. The weather had cleared and the park was able to use a couple of helicopters to aid in the search. However still no sign of the missing climber was found. As of the writing of this article the search is still continuing.

©Copyright 1999 Tacoma Mountain Rescue