The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 10:00 A,M, on Wednesday April 7^th . 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.

The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 3:00 P.M. on Monday the 12^th of April. Mt. Rainier National Park had requested six Tacoma Mountain Rescue volunteers to help in the recovery of a 51 year-old climber who had fallen in a crevasse on the Paradise Glacier. Five members responded: Chris Berryman, Stan Kartes, Ken Capron, Mike Mixon and Rob Penny. They were to meet at the Ranger Station at Longmire and then climb up to the 8800 foot level on the Paradise Glacier to help carry out the injured climber. Due to the time of the callout in the midst of rush hour traffic it was decided to have some of the members meet at the Cache at 5:30 P.M. and the rest to go straight to the mountain.

Michael Corroone and a friend Dan Gallagher were returning to the Paradise parking lot after a failed summit attempt. In 40 mph winds with blowing snow and poor visibility they were forced to try to use a compass heading to find the parking lot; they got off course and wandered east onto the Paradise Glacier. After discovering their error they tried to turn around, but wound up at the 8800 feet surrounded by crevasses. Though Corroone was carrying a rope they decided against roping up. At about 1:30 P.M. while following his partner he broke through an ice bridge and fell 75 feet into a crevasse. He became wedged by his pack in a narrow 18 inch portion of the crevasse.

His climbing partner was able to lower a rope to him, but could not see him or communicate with him. He was however able to call 911 on his cell phone and alert Park Rangers.

The Park called in a private helicopter which picked up climbing ranger Mike Gauthier and a friend Tom Mallard from Camp Schurman where they were inspecting for winter damage to the hut located on Steam Boat Prow.

After arriving at the scene Mike rappelled down to Carroone who was hanging from his pack straps. Over the next hour Mike cut Carroone away from his pack and snow shoes, and slipped him into a harness. Then Mallard and Gallagher were able to haul Carroone out of the crevasse.

After they had extracted Carroone from the crevasse they called for the helicopter to return. However; once the helicopter landed it quickly became coated in ice. It took them a half hour of chopping with ice axes to free the chopper and restart it. After they were safe and sound at the helipad at Kautz creek the page was sent out to turn around the rest of the responding TMRU members who had not made it to the mountain.

Call to order 1940 hrs

BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Alan Givotovsky, Chris Berryman, Jeff Sharp, Bill Weber, Gus Bush, Ken Capron, Phil Pletcher, Ed Hrivnak, Fran McFarland, Russ Brinton.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Kate Roberts, Terri Lieby, Lee Tegner, John Simac, Andrew Rush, Dave Treber, Jim Andrues.

The February minutes were accepted as revised: Unit truck was cleaned by Treber and Capron; Jim Andrues was listed as a board member. Working on pro deals with Minus 40 and Atlas.

TREASURERS REPORT: Alan Givotovsky

• Report from Larry was read, a motion was made, seconded and passed to accept.
• Treasurers reports to be kept with Board Minutes in the future

OPERATIONS: Gus Bush

• King Co. evidence search
• Mt. Rainier back-up..

TRAINING REPORT: Russ Brinton

• Last training was navigation and this month's training will be rock climbing techniques.
• No word on Truck Training dates, possibly April.
• Jim Andrues gave a report on the upcoming Big Foot Training on April 30th and May 1st.
• Jim also introduced a new Mentor Program that the Board informally adopted.

EQUIPMENT: Ken Capron

• Purchased new webbing for stock, now in service.
• Ken introduced a motion to purchase tan and red webbing; motion was passed,
• Ken also showed a rigging kit available from Advanced Rescue

COMMUNICATIONS:

• No report

SAFETY AND EDUCATION- Phil Pletcher

• RV Show at Puyallup Fairgrounds report: sold two kits and worked Saturday only.
• Children's Safety Fair on June 12th, TMRU training date.
• Phil will look into gun and outdoor shows at which the Unit may be able to get a free or cheap booth space

MEMBERSHIP: Chris Berryman

• The following were voted in at Field Support:
       Marcus Collins, Andrew Mason Rush, Steve Platt.
• New master cover sheet and updated roster are in the file, please copy and return master.

FINANCE: Bill Weber

• No activity.

OLD BUSINESS:

• A motion was made that the Unit pay for the entire tuition of the Rigging for Rescue class for Fran McFarland and Stan Kartes; reimbursement from the SAR Council will be sought later. Motion passed.
• Alan asked that Unit members take trash from the Cache and dispose of it at home to prevent unpleasant build ups.
• A discussion on SARVAC Standards resulted in Board's support of writing them ourselves. Jeff and Chris to pursue.
• It was pointed out by Alan that Unit debriefings are not happening immediately after missions This is the responsibility of the OL, see that it happens.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Thanks to Les Schwab for help with Unit truck battery.
• List of members being dropped, because of unpaid dues, was read.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

• Stan Engle gave the Unit books from the Mountaineers Press, and informed us that a discount on publications is available to us.

Adjourn 21:30 hrs

Respectfully submitted,


Chris Berryman, Secretary pro tem

The following members attended the Kit Party on Apr 7, 1999:

Shorty Williams
Ron Langhelm
Ken Capron
Bill Weber
John Simac
Jim Andrues
Chris and Tracy Berryman

They made 290 kits

Remember the Kit Party is 7:30 P.M. the first Wednesday of the month at 2905 Parkway Dr. W. If you need directions, call Shorty Williams at 564-0581. The next Kit Component & Pizza Party will be at the Cache, May 19, 6-8:30 p.m. We need your help.

©Copyright 1999 Tacoma Mountain Rescue