TMRU October 2000 Rucksack

The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 4:00 pm on the 3^rd of September. The Yakima County Sheriff had requested Mountain Rescue Volunteers to help rescue a 37 year old climber from the 8100 foot level of Mt. Adams. The subject had tried to glissade from higher on the mountain to a spot called Lunch Counter, a popular high campsite used when trying for the summit. Unfortunately he had forgotten to remove his crampons. As he was sliding down the mountain one of his crampons caught in the snow and broke his leg. The following report of the mission was submitted by Fran Martoglio.

We were paged late Sunday afternoon for an injured climber just below the lunch counter on Mt. Adams. The following members responded: Jeff Sharp, Chris Berryman, Victor Caro, Jim Andrues, Ben Constance, Stan Kartes and myself. We got to the trailhead around 11:30 pm. We were going to be a part of a mixed team (Central Mountain Rescue and Seattle Mountain Rescue) and 1 Forest Service Ranger that would leave at 4 am to climb up to the patient. We were informed that a doctor had checked on the patient; he was with his friends and comfortable. The original field diagnosis was torn knee ligaments.

We packed our individual and team gear that night. We took the rigging kit, 2 x 400' ropes and the wheeled litter. The teams left on time and started up on a nice clear night. We reached the patient within a couple hours. He was doing great. He had unfortunately tried glissading with crampons on and had caught his foot. One of the Seattle team members was an MD, and felt that he had probably broken his fibula also. A call was made to MAST to ask for a fly-out. Although it was not a life-threatening injury, the carryout would have been extremely hard on the patient.

We set up a low angle lower of 400 feet on snow to the LZ. MAST then arrived and flew the patient to Yakima. The team hiked out and we were at the parking lot by 11:30 am.

Thanks to the other MRA teams for a great job on this mission. And additional thanks to CMR for retrieving our litter and gear.

The Unit was contacted on the 6^th of September by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management to help in the reopened search for a lost kayaker in Skagit County. Were asked to assemble members for a search the following Sunday the 10^th of September. Again the following report was submitted by Fran Martoglio.

A kayaker had been lost earlier this year on the Cascade River and his body had not been recovered. Skagit County (through Tom Miner) asked us to come up on Sunday 9/10 because the water level had lowered in the river and attempt a search of the river and possible recovery. The following members responded: Jeff Sharp, Chris Berryman, Ken Capron, Rod Scott, Ben Constance, Tom Miner, Jason Miner, John Miner, Stan Kartes, Victor Caro, Jim Andrues, Rick Lorenz, Rick Wire and myself.

Earlier in the week, they had flown over the river and many parts of it were visible. In the middle of the river, were 7, 30' steel girders. The kayaker's paddling partner had last seen him go under these.

Unfortunately, by Sunday rains had returned and the river had risen to a level that was not searchable. However; a bank search was conducted around the girder area and downstream with no success. If weather cooperates and the river lowers again, we may be asked to return for a search under the girders.

These minutes as published are unofficial and subject to approval at the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Convened 17:40.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Alan Givotovsky, Fran Martoglio, John Kirkman, Gus Bush, Chris Berryman, Bill Weber, Russ Brinton, Victor Caro, Ken Capron, Stan Kartes.

OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Andrues, Jeff Sharp, Jason Miner, Ben Constance, Rick Lorenz, Wendy Stefaniak, Rod Scott, Steve Medeiros.

How many times has a search team found a subject who had been lost for several day's and have him say "I wasn't lost, I was just disoriented." How many people who have been the subject of a search are going to admit that they were lost? Eating humble pie in front of news cameras can be rather hard. Most of us have joined Mountain Rescue because we have a desire to help our fellow mountaineers when they are in trouble. Some of the new members may have the fantasy of coming over the hill like the cavalry to the rescue to the undying thanks of the subject we are rescuing. As some of the older members will tell you that is not always the case. You have to remember that the subject is under a great deal of stress where minutes seem like hours. And of course anyone involved in an accident is going to have some sort of emotional response.

After the accident occurs about one fourth of the people react effectively. The rest react in different ways; most are stunned or bewildered and usually are inactive and indecisive. They may show no emotion or behave in a robotlike manner. Other signs could be profuse sweating, palpitations, tunnel vision, or dry mouth, crying, weakness, loss of appetite or nausea or extreme anger. In the case of anger the victim could lash out in all directions, maybe even at you, the rescuer. About one eighth could have extreme reactions such as hysteria or paralyzing anxiety. Attention to this response is sometimes as important as treating their obvious injuries.

Other reactions could be protest or denial; they may either deny the problem exists or not admit the seriousness of the situation. Or they may acknowledge the problem, but see it as overwhelming. At this point the outward signs mentioned above could start to manifest themselves.

You, the rescuers, will have to cope with these reactions at the scene of the accident or during the carryout. Team leaders and team members must provide as much help as possible with constructive and understanding listening. The victims need to be reassured that their reactions are normal to the situation. Please remember they are in a state of emotional shock. Team leaders should also remember that a person's self-esteem is based on how he responds to the situation and should involve him as much as possible in his own rescue.

The Kit parties are held from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M., the first Wednesday at the Cache. If you need directions, call 531-2120.

There are only four elected positions on the Unit board: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Each member serves a two-year term and can be elected for two consecutive terms. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected in even years the Secretary and Treasurer in odd. Nominations are accepted at the September general membership meeting and elections take place at the October meeting. Since this is an even year, the nominations are for Chairman and Vice Chairman. As of publication, two name have been nominated:

Rucksack - October 2000

Volume 39 Number 9

Gus Bush Editor

Tacoma Mountain Rescue Schedule

October 2000

November 2000