Climbers Fall in Cravasse on Mt. Rainier DEM #97-1344

TMR members wait by the rescue truck at the White River Ranger Station

The Pierce County Department of Emergency Management contacted Gus Bush on Tuesday the 29th of July. The Park Rangers at Mt. Rainier National Park had requested 12 Mountain Rescue volunteers be placed on standby for a possible rescue of two climbers on the Emmons Glacier. Gus then contacted the park and talked to Steve Winslow the chief climbing Ranger. Climbers on the Emmons Glacier had reported that two climbers had fallen into a crevasse at the 13,500 foot level. They were in the process of trying to land nine climbing Rangers on the summit of the mountain with an Army Chinook helicopter. They wanted Mountain Rescue volunteers to be at the White River ranger station at 7:00 A.M. Wednesday morning. After contacting Tracy Berryman a callout was made and eight TMRU members responded they were: Ed Hrivnak, Jeff Sharp, Fran Mcfarland, Tom Miner, Brian Paterik, Dave Wright, John Kirkman and Russ Brinton.

After meeting at the Cache at 4:30 A.M. the team traveled to the White River ranger station. After arriving at the ranger station they were told to climb up to Camp Schurmann to assist the Rangers in case a helicopter wasn't available. After the team arrived at the trail head at White River campground they were called on the radio to return to the Ranger Station. They were then told to go to the Ranger Creek helipad to be lifted up by a Chinook helicopter. Unfortunately the helicopter broke down, and after a long wait the team was released. They returned to the Cache around 4:00 P.M.

Rangers stand by the body of McIntyre after recovering it from cravasse on right

The climbers Joel Koury, 37, and Don McIntyre had started out on Saturday the 26th to climb the Liberty Ridge route on the Northwest side of the mountain. Having made the summit on Tuesday morning they started down the Emmons Glacier around 1:00 P.M. Descending the mountain in whiteout caused by clouds around the summit they got off route and entered a crevasse field. To add to their problems the snow that late in the day had turned to slush, and as they walked the slushy snow built up in their crampons. Stopping to knock snow out of his crampons Koury lost his balance and tumbled into McIntyre sending them both over the lip of a crevasse and onto a ledge 30 feet down. The accident was witnessed by other climbers 500 feet above them.

After landing on the summit the nine rangers were able to reach the accident site just before sunset on Tuesday. They discovered that McIntyre had died in the fall and that Koury while bumped and bruised was able to walk. After recovering the body and wrapping it in the victim's tent, and securing it to the slope with a picket they escorted Koury down to Camp Schurmann. The body of Don McIntyre was not recovered till a week later on Aug. 4th. Koury was flown off the mountain Wednesday morning by helicopter.

Editors Note: Murphy's law states that if it can go wrong it will go wrong. Some people voiced their frustration to me about this mission. Keep in mind that your main reason for being there is someone's in trouble and needs help. Don't let your anger at things you cannot control cause you to lose sight of that fact.

Swiftwater Search for Missing 3 Year Old DEM # 97-1431

Mike Mixon patrols in his Kayak to protect other rescuers

The unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 6:30 A.M. Monday the 11th of August. The Sheriff's Department had ask for any swiftwater qualified members to respond to the Orting Fire Department. They were needed to help search for a missing 3 year old girl lost in the Puyallup River on Sunday, and five rafters Who were over due on the Nisqually river.

Brandi Blake, the little girl's mother and her boyfriend and two other children aged 3 and 5 years, had decided to go rafting on the Puyallup river to escape the local heat wave. They had gone less than a quarter mile down river in a small raft not made for running a swift flowing river like the Puyallup. When the raft flipped at the tail end of some moderate rapids in water that was eight to 12 feet deep all the occupants surfaced except Stephanie. None of the occupants of the raft were wearing life vests, Brandi and the children had never been rafting, and had no experience with swift water. They were able to save two of the three children but the third, little Stephanie Courville, was nowhere to be found.

Also on Sunday five rafters, two children and three adults, had set out from McKenna to float the Nisqually river basically all the way to Puget Sound. They had consulted some local people who informed them that the trip should take about three hours. In reality, this trip at present flow levels would actually take more than ten hours. The party was divided between two small inflatable light duty recreational rafts. It appears that the children had personal flotation devices, the status of the adults safety gear is unknown.

Sheriff and Fire Department personnel trained in swift water rescue searched till nightfall on Sunday. More than fifty searchers including eight members of Tacoma Mountain Rescue responded by 8:00 A.M. Monday morning. The TMRU members who responded were. Mike Mixon, Chris Berryman, Jeff Sharp, John Kirkman, Jim Andrues, Jim Lewis, Pat Lillie and Dave Wright.

Rainier One was launched from helibase by 0900 hrs. on Monday 11 August and flew to Western, a private airstrip in McKenna for instructions and information from Pierce County Sheriff SAR coordinators prior to starting the search of the river. The crew consisted of pilot Bob Hoffman, Senior Crew Chief Jeff Sharp, and Student, Primary Crew Chief Jim Andrues. Initially, TMRU members Chris Berryman and Pat Lillie were to be the rescue team. As no co-pilot responded to the call out, Jeff moved to the left seat, and Pat became Senior Crew Chief.

It became apparent to the rafters that after more than three hours on the river, they were less than half way to their desired take out. They were being overtaken by darkness, so they wisely beached their crafts and prepared to spend the night out. To their credit, the party had left an itinerary with a wife of one of the adults indicating that they should be off the river by 1930 hrs.

According to news reports, the party did have food and water, but had planned on this only being a day trip,. On arrival at search base TMRU member Jim Lewis and PCSD Deputy J Sousley joined the crew as additional rescue team members.

The aircraft was configured to support helirappel and short-haul operations, and as they launched the Sheriff's fixed wing reported a possible sighting of a raft. The fixed wing flew high cover and directed them to the raft which did fit the description of one of the craft which the party had used; they located the raft and landed in a nearby cow pasture. As they landed, a group of people were spotted at a fence near the end of the pasture.

After landing, Pat departed the helicopter and made contact with the people at the fence line. An inquiry was made as to whether this was the missing party, and the answer was in the affirmative. Everyone was in good health. The party had made a call from a cell phone to arrange a pick up and return. At this point we re-packed gear and departed to Orting.

Mike Mixon, Dave Wright and John Kirkman had responded at 8:00 A.M. to the Orting FD.

The search scene on the Puyallup River

Search base was then shifted to a spot on the Puyallup river, about 1 mile below town. Also on the scene, were Orting FD, Pierce Co Sheriffs, Puyallup FD, Buckley FD and Thurston Co Sheriffs dept. A briefing was held and teams were assigned to various tasks. TMR was assigned to be "safety". Dave and John donned gear and throw bags and proceeded to approximately 50 yards down river of the search operations. Mike climbed into his kayak and patrolled the river immediately below the search scene. The searching was performed by using a 4-pt boat tether, with the two searchers in the boat probing beneath the water (approx. 9' deep) to explore the area around roots and rocks.

At approximately 10:00 A.M., Rainier 1 arrived, bringing Pat Lillie and Jim Lewis as swift-water searchers. Jeff Sharp and Jim Andrues stayed as crew for the helo. Patrick, along with Jim Lewis and several others, began a boat-based search in a second location, approximately 30 yards down river from the first point of interest. Dave Wright rotated into position in the upper boat, to begin probing. After completing the initial search of the lower area, Pat's team continued down river, performing a swimming search and discovered the victim.

Afterwards, all searchers feasted on the food generously provided by businesses in Orting. A quick debrief was then held in the Orting fire-hall and everyone was dismissed.

Editors note: Both Mike Mixon and Pat Lillie submitted reports for this article. Also all pictures used in both of the above articles were video captured from KSTW and KING news footage.

Tacoma Mountain Rescue Board Meeting July 30, 1997

Call to order: 19:52 hrs.

Board members In attendance:

Chris Berryman Jim Howe Jim Andrues

Mike Mixon Rick Wire.

Others In attendance:

Gus Bush Lee Tegner

Larry Crum Ron Langheim.

The June minutes were accepted.

TREASURERS REPORT:Jim Howe

• Balance sheet was read and motion was made to accept treasurer's report. Motion was seconded and passed.
• Investments were made with funds from money set aside for a new truck.
• Jim also stated that you must have prior approval from the SAR Council before taking a class to be reimbursed for it.

• June 29, Mt. Rainier, stand by for climbers fallen in crevasse.

• Heli-Rescue class: 17 members received full certification through rappel and short-haul.
• Crevasse Rescue is next month's class.
• Big Foot date uncertain.

• Candy Cox has received Ryan Nelsons pager and become a second Call-out person.

• No interest in working the Climbing Wall at the Puyallup Fair this year.

• Ron Langheim, previously with Bellingham MR, was voted in at Rescue Support.
• Motion was made to drop Ron Lucas from the Roster due to non-payment of dues. Motion was seconded and passed.

• The board decided to expand the Unit Hot Line with mail boxes for Kits, Callout, Trainings and Special Events. Tracy Berryman to do.
• Web Page: Larry Crum to look for a provider to donate space for Unit Web site.

• Mike Mixon spoke of limits placed on high camps on Mt. Rainier's Emmons route and the possible problems of inexperienced climbers forced onto harder routes.

Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit Web Page

Though still under construction the members of the Unit have been working on presenting a Unit page on the Internet.

Most of the work has been done by Larry Crum, and until we can find a sponsor it is located on his personal web page. You can find copies of the Unit operating procedures, Unit orientation,equipment list and most copies of the Rucksack (in color no less) from July on. So if you have access to a computer and the Internet, check it out at the following URL:

Kit Party

The following members attended the kit party on Aug 6, 1997:

Shorty Williams John Simac Bill Weber

Jim Andrues Gus Bush Chris Berryman

They made 210 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.

We need your help.

©Copyright 1997 Tacoma Mountain Rescue