FALLING ROCK

Washington, Icicle River Canyon, Snow Lakes

On July 31, 1993, Rolf Sonnerup (28) was climbing on a popular rock face across the road from the Snow Lakes trailhead. His partner was 50 feet above Sonnerup and dislodged a rock that struck Sonnerup in the shoulder and arm, then hit his leg, taking off skin and muscle down to the bone from the knee to the ankle.

Members of the Chelan County HASTY rescue team and Chelan County Mountain Rescue climbed up to reach Sonnerup. Ambulance crews from Leavenworth and Wenatchee, and two Canadian doctors visiting the area, worked on Sonnerup and moved him about 50 feet to where the helicopter could reach him.

“He was hurt pretty bad and bleeding and the emergency workers felt he had to be taken out by helicopter,” the Chelan County Sheriff's Captain, Pete Peterson, said. He said it took just 24 minutes to fly from Wenatchee, pick up Sonnerup and deliver him directly to the hospital.

Peterson counted the rescue as one of his trickiest. He said there was only room on the rock where he landed for part of a skid. He said he had only about a six foot clearance for the blades.

He said the county’s helicopter, which is often used in mountain rescues, was not large enough. He borrowed the DNR helicopter on loan to Chelan County Fire District 1. “It was just something the Jet Ranger couldn’t do,” he said. “It had to be a larger, platform helicopter, like the ones the (Chelan County) commissioners just denied (for purchase). There wasn’t enough time to call for the Air Force or Army helicopters.” (Source: From a report submitted by Fred Stanley)

(Editors Note: We don’t know how the rock was dislodged, but we do know that Sonnerup was able to belay his partner. Sonnerup’s leg had to be amputated below the knee, but he is already skiing again. We also know that the rescue team was called in by cellular telephone, and time was of the essence in this case.)