On March 6,1996 a new era in the history of Tacoma Mountain Rescue was begun.
For years the Unit has met our funding needs by the sale of a small
survival kit or storm kit as it became known. This kit contained, matches,
a candle, sugar, salt, tea, bouillon, wire, a whistle, signal mirror,
plastic tube tarp and a survival brochure. Unit members would meet the
first Wednesday of every month and put together 200 to 600 of these kits.
An average of around 4000 kits a year were sold to local outdoor supply
stores, some local national parks, (Olympic and North Cascades) and by
word of mouth, till by the mid-1990's they were being sold almost
nationwide.
In the early days the Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit was supported by
donations from the members and the occasional fund raiser. However, as
the unit grew and more unit equipment was needed (such as a rescue truck)
a more stable and dependable form of funding was needed. An event happened
during the building of the Schurrman Hut that would eventually lead to the
creation of the kit.
The following is from an interview with John
Simac one of the unit's founders:
The original kit was born on Curtis spur on Mt. Rainier. It was during
a hike and carrying in supplies of canvas for the navy bunks at the
Schurrman hut. Two guys by the name of Max Eckenburg and Joe Savenney
(please forgive me if I have spelled Max and Joe's names incorrectly.
Editor) and myself were carrying this canvas up to the prow. When we got
to Curtis Spur, Savenney ran out of gas. He stayed at the spur for the
night, and I went on up to the prow and then came back to stay the night
with him. We didn't intend to spend the night there, but a storm came in
and we couldn't move up over the prow. I had pretty much the same
ingredients that were in the kit in a little different can than it was
later put into. It was something that I put together, and we used that
kit to spend the night because we didn't have the sleeping bags at
Curtis Spur. When I got back and we were talking about it, Ev Lasher
said what we ought to do is put together a kit like that since it could
save a life, and sell it. (There were many others such as Gene Fear who
also helped design and market the kit. Editor) The first ones we sold for
two dollars, it was incredible, we were baling them out by the wheelbarrow
load and there was a really good market for them. We got tremendous
feedback from the whole thing, we got letters where they credit the kit
with saving their lives. The kit has done its job, plus the fact that it
has furnished the Tacoma Mountain Rescue unit with all the equipment
necessary to do our job except for our present truck.
Two years ago the manufacturer that had produced the can for the kit for
many years informed the Unit that the die had broken and he could no
longer afford to produce the cans for us. What followed was an
eighteen-month search for a new can supplier. A can committee was formed
with past and present members of the unit to rethink the kit. A new and
improved version of the kit came out of their meetings. A supplier was
found for a new can and the name was changed from Storm kit to Survival
Kit. The new kit retains some of the old kits recognizable form in color
and printing but is three quarters of an inch wider. It also retains all
the ingredients of the old kit but also includes; waterproof paper, a
pencil, compass, foil, knife, cord, and a poly bag. On March 6 fifteen
members of the unit met for a kit party to put together this new kit; at
that party they produced 430 kits. While a portion of this first run of
new kits will go as samples to our customers to see if it has the appeal
of the old kit, I'm sure it will find its own level and remain our main
source of funding well into the next century. I would be remiss if I
didn't mention the name of the people most responsible for the continued
success of the kit. Shorty Williams, who for years has provided the Unit
the space to hold the kit parties at his house every month except July
(Shorty's vacation). Lee and Dolores Tegner, who have handled the business
side taking orders and shipping the kits to customers. Irina Scheer who
has been one of the regulars at the kit party for many years. I know I
have left out many names of those who have helped put together the kit for
these many years.If any of the older members who read this article can
remember the names of those who helped form the original kit please write
me in care of the Unit. Their names are an important part of the Units
history.
