The unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management on Saturday the 25th of Oct. at 9:00 P.M.. The Rangers at Mt. Rainier National Park had requested six mountain rescue volunteers to help in the search for a missing climber on the Ingraham Glacier.

Two climbers from Petaluma , California, Mark Moyer, 26 and Nicholas Giromini, 25, had climbed on other mountains in California , but with no experience on glaciers had wandered off route on their descent from the summit. They had not registered with park rangers for their climb and had left Camp Muir with no packs or food or water, and with only ice axes, crampons over hiking boots and wearing light fleece jackets and Gore-Tex pants for a summit attempt .After reaching the summit and descending to the 12,500 foot level around the top of Gibraltar Rock they began to argue upon which was the safest route down. Moyer wanting to climb back up and find the route, Giromini wanting to continue down the Gibraltar Chute. Around 3:30 p.m. unable to resolve the dispute they separated each taking the route he thought best. Moyer climbed across the Ingraham Glacier, where he found the tracks they had made during their ascent and returned to his tent at Camp Muir. He was contacted by other climbers who had seen the pair leave that morning as to the whereabouts of his partner. They then contacted Park Rangers by cell phone.

Five team members responded to the callout they were: Mike Mixon, Fran McFarland, Jim Andrues, Dave Wright John Kirkman and Ron Langhelm. They were asked to meet at the Cache at 6:00 a.m. or at the Longmire Ranger station at 8:00 a.m. After arriving and being briefed they split into two teams. One team would climb to Camp Muir while the other waited to be lifted up by helicopter if the weather cleared.

Mike, Fran and John were picked as the team to climb up to Muir. As they left the Paradise parking lot the snow and wind were already picking up. By the time they reached Pebble Creek at the 7,000 foot level the winds had picked up to 60 mph and the visibility had been reduced to 10 feet or less. With an ambient temperature of 20ºF the wind chill was approximately -40ºF When they reached the 8,000 foot level with no sign of change they decided to turn back to Paradise. After consulting with the rangers the teams returned to the Cache around 7:30p.m.

Mt. Rainier asked for another twelve volunteers for Monday morning; only one team member answered the callout Sunday. Members from the Seattle Mountain Rescue Council went up on Monday morning. With clearing weather above 9,000 feet Giromini’s body was spotted 700 feet above Camp Muir. It appeared he had taken a fall of about 700 feet down a 35-40 degree slope. Whether he died from hypothermia or the fall is unknown at this time. The body was lifted off with a helicopter from Ft. Lewis and turned over to the Pierce County Medical Examiner.

Search for Lost Hicker on Mt. Rainier DEM #97-2075

The unit was contacted by the Pierce county Department of Emergency Management on Thursday Nov. 13 at 6:30p.m.. They had been contacted by the Rangers at Mt. Rainier National Park to help search for a lost hiker in the Deer Creek area of the park south of Cayuse Pass.

Chet Hansen had gone on a solo hike Tuesday to the east side of the park. He had left no itinerary and was carrying camera equipment weighing about thirty pounds. He was dressed in a pile jacket and carrying a fanny pack, and was not prepared for an overnight stay on the mountain. His friends and relatives searched on Wednesday prior to notifying Park Rangers and as a result a organized search was not started until Thursday. The first search concentrated in areas around waterfalls and viewpoints that might lure a photographer. Film that was found in his car was developed and it was discovered that he had been in the Tipsoo Lake area

The Park Rangers requested That 12 Mountain Rescue volunteers to meet at Ohanapecosh Ranger station at 7:00a.m. Friday morning. Five unit members responded they were: Fran McFarland, Ron Lucas, John Miner, Mike Mixon and Stan Kartes. Another six volunteers were obtained from Olympic Mountain Rescue in Bremerton. After arrival Fran and Stan were inserted by helicopter into Chinook Pass. The rest of the mountain rescue teams searched the drainage around Deer Creek where the subject's car was found. A second callout was made on Friday night for nine more searchers to help search on Saturday. Ten members responded; they were: Lee Tegner, Chris Berryman, Larry and Connie Crum, Ken Davies, Alan Givotovsky, Angela Kartes, John Kirkman, Tom Miner, Duane Perham, Ray Ward, Rick Wire and Dave Wright. Sunday nine members stayed thru; they were Chris Berryman, Rick Wire, Dave Wright, Fran McFarland, John Miner, Alan Givotovsky, Tom Miner and Lee Tegner. Two more members went up on Sunday morning they were Jim Andrues and Steve Stowell

A very extensive search was mounted on Saturday and Sunday with Mountain Rescue teams from Tacoma, Olympic, Everett and Seattle, members from the Pierce, Thurston and Snohomish Explorer Search and Rescue teams, plus numerous friends and co-workers of the subject. In total over a hundred searchers combed the areas in and around Deer Creek, Governors Ridge, Barrier Peak, Buel Peak, Cowlitz Chimneys, Sheepskin Pass, Cayuse and Chinook Passes. The Mountain Rescue (MR) teams searched some very steep and slick terrain where they had to wear crampon's to maintain their footing, while other MR members acted as team leaders for the Explorer teams.

Tom and John Miner acted as Operations Leaders for this huge effort and deserve a special pat on the back for their efforts in coordinating all the searchers. Thanks should also be given to the people at Camp Shepard for helping to house and feed the searchers who participated.

Unfortunately the search on all three days turned up nothing and as of Sunday night it was suspended. Everyone returned safe and sound by 10:30p.m. Sunday night.

Tacoma Mountain Rescue Board Meeting September 24, 1997

Call to order: 19:45 hrs.

Board members in attendance:

Rob Lutz Alan Givotosky Chris Berryman Jim Howe Jim Andrues

Jeff Sharp Bill Weber Rick Wire Mike Mixon.

Others in attendance:

Gus Bush Lee Tegner Roger Ternes Scott Humphrey Ken & Christine Davies.

The September minutes were accepted as revised.

TREASURERS REPORT: Jim Howe

• Balance sheet was read and motion was made to accept treasurers report. Motion was seconded and passed.
• Donation from Moffet family received.
• Truck insurance is paid up for year, and Fran McFarland has been added to the drivers list

OPERATIONS: Rob Lutz

• Body recovery- Glacier View, Rainier 1 recovered the body.
• Search for missing hunters- Yakima County, turn around.
• Search for missing climber- Mt. Rainier, team weathered off. Discussion of mission followed including truck would not start.

TRAINING REPORT: Jim Andrues

• Urban rescue Wednesday night lecture was attended by 24, 8 attended Saturday.
• November training to be ELT search.

EQUIPMENT: Mike Mixon

• GPS unit found, we now have 2 again.

COMMUNICATIONS: Jeff Sharp

• Stan Kartes working on the truck radio.
• The idea of purchasing new radio harnesses was discussed and tabled.

SAFETY AND EDUCATION: Chris Berryman

No report.

MEMBERSHIP: Chris Berryman

• The following people were voted in at Field Support- Bob Crow, Roger Ternes and Scott Humphrey.
• Promotions list read by Rick Wire, motion was made to accept, seconded and passed by board.
• The policy of giving a unit T-shirt to new members remains in effect.
• Jim Howe recommended that Tracy Berryman should get a cell phone.
• Motion was made to add to our Policies and Standards that administrative members of the unit need to fill out applications, be voted in, and pay dues.
• Question arose whether Call Out Chair should have a DEM number. Chris Berryman to pursue.

FINANCE:

No Report

OLD BUSINESS

• Rob Lutz to attend NATARS national conference. Unit to pay airfare, registration, and hotel.
• National MRA agrees to helicopter seminar being led by TMR.
• Jeff Sharp proposed using special funding for the helicopter program only.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Truck has a power steering fluid leak, Bill Weber to look into.
• WMRA report by Mike Mixon:
• All units report mission load is down.
• GPS tests completed, results to be sent to us.
• Tacoma to host next WMRA meeting.
• MAST is using Airlift NW radio frequencies.
• Gus Bush made a motion to set aside $100 to purchase domain for unit web page. Motion seconded and passed.

Adjourn 21:20 hrs.

Respectfully submitted,

Chris Berryman, Secretary

I am happy to award the 1997 Big Piton Award to Chris and Tracy Berryman. I present this award to both of them because of their dedicated volunteer work. They have made a difference in Tacoma Mountain Rescue.

Chris has worked diligently as secretary. He has also been instrumental in maintaining the rescue truck, our rescue cache, and the helicopter trailer. By volunteering to be a crew chief, Chris often trains 3 out of 4 weekends every month. I have always been able to count on him to accomplish a task. It is also noteworthy to mention that Chris has been influential on numerous lifesaving rescue missions. The Mt. Thompson hoist mission and the lost boy scout in Yakima are particularly memorable saves.

Tracy is a relatively new support member to mountain rescue. She has successfully assumed the role of intown coordinator for the team. Her prompt action has finally given us a reliable call out system. She has updated our phone rosters and managed our phone messaging system. Rescuer notification and response rate has improved dramatically since Tracy has taken over. Consequently our ability to field a rescue team and perform the mission has improved.

Tracy and Chris are continuing an almost lost tradition established by our founding fathers. They have brought their family into mountain rescue. The first mountain rescue teams were family oriented. Having more than one member of the family involved was the norm, where now it is an exception. We as an organization should follow the Berrymans example. I hope that other unit members will encourage the family to be involved. Not everyone needs to be a rescuer. There are plenty of support roles within the unit. The kit party is just one example.

Finally I would like to thank Chris and Tracy. You have improved the capabilities of Tacoma Mountain Rescue. ( and you have made my job easier.)

Ed Hrivnak, President.

Promotions

Their are three rescue levels in Tacoma Mountain Rescue. Field Support: This is the basic training level and most members are voted into the Unit at this level. Rescue Support: These individuals have shown the dedication to remain active members of the Unit and have met the criteria set forth in the Unit policies to obtain rescue support status. These members can also be assigned as team leaders and are responsible for the welfare of other team members.

Full Rescue: These members are the hierarchy of the team. They have met the criteria set forth in the Unit policies to obtain full rescue status. They can function as Operation Leaders and run an entire rescue mission. They can also function as instructors on Unit training. The following members have been promoted to:

Rescue Support:

Larry Crum
Connie Crum
Fran McFarland
Scott Nicholson
Joe Rusinko

Full Rescue:

Russ Brinton
John Kirkman
Brian Paterik
Duane Perham
Rick Wire

Congratulations to these members.

Kit Party

The following members attended the kit party on Nov 5, 1997:

Shorty Williams John Simac Bill Weber

Jim Lewis Gus Bush Charlotte Belaran

They made 250 Kits.


Due to a sufficient supply of Kits there will be no Kit Party in December.

Basic Rigging Class

Purpose: To give Unit members specific instruction on rigging rope systems commonly used in rescue work.
When: Dec 4, 1997 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Rescue Cache
What to Bring: Wednesday night bring a note pad and pencil for notes and to diagram systems.
Instructor: Chris Berryman
Attendance: RSVP 581-6614
Note: No previous knowledge of systems is required.

©Copyright 1997 Tacoma Mountain Rescue