Mount Rainier ranger killed in climbers' rescue
Source: Associated Press
SEATTLE Authorities at Mount Rainier National Park faced the grim task Friday of recovering the body of one of their own rangers who slid more than 3,000 feet to his death while helping rescue a climbing party.
Nick Hall, 33, died Thursday as he was helping evacuate climbers from a crevasse by helicopter near the summit of the 14,411-foot mountain.
The Chinook helicopter from Joint Base Lewis-McChord removed three of the four climbers from Waco, Texas. Four rangers stayed overnight with the fourth person, who will be walking down later Friday.
Park spokesman Kevin Bacher said six rangers went to recover Hall's body, but that could take several days if the helicopter can't fly. Rain was falling at Longmire, and the National Weather Service said it was snowing above 10,000 feet, the level where Hall landed after the 3,000-foot slide.
Read more: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/nation/2012/06/22/mount-rainier-ranger-killed-climbers-rescue/1214292
Nick was the second ranger at Mt. Ranier NP to lose their life in the line of duty this year.
Much more at link.
Skittles
(153,164 posts)these climbers will never be able to pay for this rescue
bluedigger
(17,086 posts)Colorado sells a Search & Rescue card $15/5 years that helps fund training and operating costs of search and rescue teams.
byeya
(2,842 posts)is a primary function of the profession and along with fire fighting and law enforcement, a dangerous one.
This is very sad for us.
jmondine
(1,649 posts)Rainier is notoriously treacherous, even for experienced climbers who don't make mistakes.
revolution breeze
(879 posts)Daughter's boyfriend is a ranger at another park in Washington state, and it scare me how rangers put their lives on the line to save hikers.
roody
(10,849 posts)Threedifferentones
(1,070 posts)left coaster
(1,093 posts)Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)RIP, Mr. Hall.
PB
byeya
(2,842 posts)he was working for no health insurance and no pension benefits.
The National Park Service routinely misuses the "seasonal" catagory when a worker should
be Subject-To-Furlough. STFs get pro rated health and pension benefits and that's the correct
catagory for positions that are needed year after year but for less than 12 months.