Washington, Mt. Baker—On September 18, Helmut Krutz (26) climbed Mt. Baker with the Vancouver Outdoor Club and the University of British Columbia Climbing Club. As the party returned from the climb, the members were unroped and straggling. Krutz wandered off to one side to see if a snow-bridge was still intact since a previous climb. Not wearing crampons and not prepared to use axe for self-arrest, he lost

his footing and slid into a crevasse. He sustained a broken hip and minor cuts and bruises.

By a happy coincidence, there were some five or six climbing parties within earshot, including three doctors, two nurses, and two members of Bellingham Mt. Rescue. Dr. Darvil of a Mt. Vernon Climbing Club and graduate of an Ice Rescue course put on by Seattle Mountaineers, was first to the scene and took charge of the evacuation from the crevasse. The National Forest Service and Bellingham Mountain Rescue were notified, and assisted with transportation some two and one half miles to the road.

Weather was low overcast and light snow; time of the accident was 11:00 a.m., elevation approximately 5,000 feet. Members of the party were in good physical condition.

Source: Anthony F. Hovey.