Fall on Rock, Stranded, Inadequate Equipment, Washington, Mount Pilchuck

Publication Year: 1982.

FALL ON ROCK, STRANDED, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT

Washington, Mount Pilchuck

After nightfall on January 11, 1981, rescuers were notified that Mark Winder (25) and a companion, Mike Depew (23), were stranded halfway up a rock cliff above Lake 22, northeast of Mount Pilchuck.

Search and rescue teams from Snohomish and Marysville and a rock-climbing team from the Everett Mountain Rescue Unit were dispatched. Working in the dark, they lowered ropes to the stranded climbers and then dropped down to lash Winder to a litter and lower him to rescuers at the bottom of the cliff; Depew was lowered by a sling. The rescue party then began a two- to two and one-half hour trip back.

There were four people in the climbing party; two who supposedly knew what they were doing and two who were to be trained by them, said Sheriff’s Sergeant Dave Sargent. He added that it was the two novices who got stranded.

Sargent said the climbers had only planned on a day’s outing and were dressed in light clothing despite freezing temperatures. (Source: The Seattle Times, January 12, 1981.)