NPS Ranger briefs PMR team
Date: 08/12/2008
A National Park Service Climbing Ranger briefs the PMR on the search area using a scale model of Mount Rainier. Shortly after the meeting, the PMR was escorted to the operations base at Paradise Lodge.
Many MRA teams came to help
Date: 08/12/2008
Multiple Mountain Rescue teams joined the effort at Mount Rainier. In this photo, you see vehicles from Tacoma Mountain Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue and Olympic Mountain Rescue units.
PMR rescuers get ready
Date: 08/12/2008
PMR rescuers stage in the Paradise parking lot on Mount Rainier. Going over the "game plan" before embarking into the wilderness is a key part of any search and rescue effort.
PMR team skis toward Nisqually
Date: 08/12/2008
Even in deep, fresh snow,
PMR can haul rescue gear
up a mountain. The team
uses ski skins to
methodically ascend
Mount Rainier to the
Nisqually Glacier.
Rescue teams near the glacier
Date: 08/12/2008
Multiple search teams stage just East of the Nisqually Glacier, waiting to provide support to the small team who were bringing the subjects to safety. Only a small number of rescuers could go down to the glacier due to the high avalanche danger. The teams are from Olympic, Seattle, Tacoma and Portland Mountain Rescue units.
Rainier Hero Glenn Kessler
Date: 08/12/2008
Glenn Kessler, a National Park Service Lead Climbing Ranger and PMR Rescue Leader was the first person to make voice contact with the subjects. He led the rescue party onto the Nisqually Glacier to bring the three lost hikers to safety.