Park staff conducted three search and rescue operations within days after the park reopened following a six-month closure due to flood damage:
May 7th – Park staff and member of Pierce County Search and Rescue conducted a search for an overdue skier who failed to return as scheduled from a day trip to Lake Eleanor on May 7th. The skier, who’d been forced to overnight in the backcountry, was found in good condition. The IC for the search was Geoff Walker.
May 15th – The Tahoma SAR occurred on Tuesday, May 15th, after a report was received of two overdue climbers on the west side of the park. The pair, who failed to register for their climb, began their trip on Friday, May 11th, and were expected out on Sunday by family members. As the search was mobilizing, the two climbers walked out on their own. Both were okay. The fact that they failed to register and provide critical trip information, combined with miscommunication with family members, caused the unnecessary search. They were issued mandatory appearance citations for not registering for a permit, which resulted in launching of two helicopters, mobilization of field teams and ramping up of the incident command system. Mike Gauthier was IC.
May 17th – Search efforts were launched for two hikers who were overdue in the Longmire area on Thursday evening. A hasty search was conducted of trail corridors, as no information was available as to which trails they’d planned to hike. Both hikers were over 65 years old and had medical issues. Field teams searched the Rampart Ridge, Eagle Peak, Van Trump, and Wonderland trails until the early morning hours of Friday, May 18th, but found no signs of the hikers. Searchers resumed their efforts on Friday morning, assisted by six search dog teams. At approximately 9:30 a.m., the hikers arrived on their own at Longmire, having caught a ride at Kautz Creek. They had originally planned to hike Rampart Ridge, but took a wrong turn, forcing them to overnight on the trail. They then hiked out via Kautz Creek. Although unprepared to spend the night on the trail, they were in good health and spirits when greeted by family members and incident staff. Ed Dunlavey was the IC.
Winter was hard on the park's trails, resulting in the loss of many trail bridges and in damage to park trails and backcountry campgrounds. The park trail crew, volunteers, and Student Conservation Corp members have started the long process of repairing the damage. For a link to the map of known trail damage and trail conditions, visit the Mount Rainier website at http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/trails-and-backcountry-camp-conditions.htm
