Turnaround for Two Injured Climbers DEM #99-1709 July 31, 1999

The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 5:30 P.M. on Saturday July 31^st. Snohomish County had requested 11 team members to help in the rescue of two climbers injured on Merchant Peak. They were asked to report to the Cache at 6:30 P.M. or at the Barkley Creek trailhead at 8:30 P.M. Eleven members responded: Chris Berryman, Ken Capron, Bruce Smith, Dave Treber, Rick Wire, Tony O'Brien, Stan and Angela Kartes, Marcus Collins, John Miner and Steve Platt.. The members were on the road en route to the rescue when they were called and turned around. Snohomish County had been able to lift the injured climbers off by helicopter.

There was another mission notification on Sunday for a possible rescue of a stranded dog on a sandbar in the White River; however, that mission was canceled before anyone left home.

©Copyright 1999 Tacoma Mountain Rescue