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DEM #99-1044 May 25, 1999 |
The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management on Sunday, May 25 at 6:18 p.m. Mt. Rainier National Park had requested six members to report to Gray Army Airfield on Ft. Lewis. They would be airlifted up to the base of Liberty Ridge to help recover the body of a 31-year-old climber who fell while trying to ski down the ridge.
David Mattias Persson had climbed to the summit of Mt. Rainier via the Liberty Ridge route. They then decided to down climb the ridge back to the Carbon Glacier. The fact that only 5% of the climbers who climb this route down climb it attests to the danger involved. To add to this danger Mr. Persson decided that he would try to ski down the last 1000 feet above the high camp at Thumb Rock at 10,800 feet. According to his fellow climbers he caught an edge of his ski and was last seen cartwheeling over the edge of a cliff. His body was found at the 9800-foot level.
Six members responded: Fran McFarland, Larry and Connie Crum, Roger and Maria Ternes and Jim Andrues. They arrived at Gray Field around 8:00 a.m. The Ch47 helicopter that was supposed to lift them to the mountain had already departed. And they were told to drive to the Kautz Creek helipad on Mt. Rainier. Before they could leave though Gus Bush, the Unit operations Leader, was called by the Park saying the recovery was in a high avalanche area and the recovery was called off. Everyone was released by 9:15 a.m. Mr. Perssons body was recovered two days later by Park Rangers.
Tacoma Mountain Rescue |
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