July - Seattle Mountain Rescue

Number 215
SEATTLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE RESCUE
BERGTRAGE - JULY 2011
1948
JULY JULY JULY JULY 2011 2011 2011 2011
2011 Bergtrage
IN IN MEMORIAM MEMORIAM - CHRIS CHRIS MADDEN MADDEN 1940 1940-2011
1940 2011
CHRISTOPHER G. MADDEN Born August 22nd, 1940 in
Boston, Massachusetts, Chris lived a life full of adventure. He
especially enjoyed traveling, hiking, climbing, bicycling, skiing
and kayaking around the world. He was an active member of
many organizations including the Mountaineers, Cascade
Bicycle Club, and Seattle Mountain Rescue. He passed away
unexpectedly June 7th, 2011 in Seattle, WA. Chris grew up in
the Hunts Point neighborhood of Bellevue and graduated from
Lakeside High School and the University of Washington. He
served his country in the Air Force and eventually became a
computer programmer for Boeing. Survived by his wife Patti
King, daughters Lisa (Gar) Rodside, and Erin (Jason) Ellis;
grandchildren Ashley, Gar, and Kaylee; stepchildren Nick and
Leana Iacovino; and step-granddaughter Ava. A celebration of
Chris' life took place on Sunday, June 26th, 2011 at the
Seattle Mountaineers Clubhouse.
FROM PAST CHAIRMAN AL ERRINGTON (1976 - 1979) Chris joined SMR, at that time the MRC, in
1977 during which time Al was the Chairman:
Thoughts about Chris. When I first met Chris he was a teacher in Boeing’s technical training center. He was a
computer wizard who taught classes in a number of subjects, but was particularly expert in the control
language for IBM’s 360 class of computers. This alone was enough to make me respect him.
Once Chris joined MRC he became one of our most active members, he
quite simply made an effort to go on all missions. His level of field
involvement and his very active climbing regimen quickly made him
respected by his rescue friends and gave him a central role in our
practice sessions. However, Chris wasn’t just a field person, he was also
willing to take on administrative tasks such as representing SMR to
KCSARA and other organizations. Chris had a natural ability to detect
BS, but could generally control his natural reaction to it and respond
diplomatically (usually). Chris got things done by presenting good ideas
wrapped in his (usually) subtle wit.
My favorite memories of Chris, quite naturally, involved the mountains.
We went on dozens and dozens of operations together and Chris made
them fun. His irreverent sense of humor and his somewhat maniacal
laugh made climb and rescue approaches a delight. I also remember
the frustration involved with attempts to out-hike him. His thousands of
GEORGE AT A RECENT SMR
SUMMER PICNIC
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CHRIS ON MAILBOX

SEATTLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE RESCUE
BERGTRAGE - JULY 2011
(Continued from page 1)
bicycle miles and his excellent climbing resume’ made this a brutal,
stomach-wrenching and generally impossible affair.
One of my favorite outings with Chris was to New Zealand for sea
kayaking and climbing. Our trip with Chris, the Baker’s and others was
a great chance to enjoy Chris’ company for an extended time. Chris
could always be depended upon for a laugh no matter the
circumstances. I recall when Chris flipped his sea kayak in heavy seas.
His craft was top-heavy due to a very large community cooking pot
strapped to his deck along with assorted other gear. I looked back to
see his craft upside down in the waves, Chris was laughing beside it
bobbing in the seas. Chris was a good a man as I’ve known and the
world has lost some of its brightness with his passing.
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Al Errington, SMR Chairman, 1976 - 1979
You are invited to view "Bergtrage"'s photo album Chris Madden's Celebration of Life at this link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bergtrage/ChrisMaddenSCelebrationOfLife?feat=directlink
MISSIONS MISSIONS MISSIONS IN IN JUNE JUNE 2011
2011
JUNE UNE 4, 2011: HIKER HIKER
INJURED NJURED IN FALL ALL ON GRANITE RANITE MOUNTAIN
OUNTAIN
SAR was paged out at 3:54pm for hiker injured in a fall on Granite
Mountain. Russ Anschell and Bree Loewen located the subject in the
second avalanche chute at 5,000 ft, quickly followed by another ESAR
team with Wes Cooper and Baunsguard. Apparently the hiker went out of
control while glissading and had minor leg injuries and felt uncomfortable
descending the slope. He was given a climbing harness and lowered on a
sit-pad via a combination of hip belay and “deadman” anchors down
GRANITE MOUNTAIN
several rope-lengths to the trail intersection. Subject was briefly
packaged in the litter after it arrived, but once on the trail, felt confident
to walk out on his own and got back to the parking lot around 10:00pm.
OTHER AGENCIES/UNITS: ESAR, SPART, 4x4 MANHOURS (SMR only): 38.0 MILEAGE (SMR only): 400
JUNE UNE 4, 2011: HIKER HIKER
“CLIFFED “CLIFFED
OUT UT” ” ON SNOW NOW LAKE AKE TRAIL RAIL
While the above mission was in progress there was another call to assist a hiker who was reported to be
“cliffed out” somewhere on the Snow Lake trail, however all SMR personnel were occupied on Granite Mountain
and unable to respond. No details are know but it sounded like just an “assist.”
JUNE UNE 24, 2011: HIKER HIKER
CALLS ALLS FOR HELP ELP AT ANNETTE NNETTE LAKE AKE
A hiker on the Lake Annette trail heard calls for help and whistle sounds from someone off trail near the lake.
The reporting party was alone and did not want to go off-trail to investigate and called 911 for help. After
making the call, some other hikers made contact with the lost party and got them back to the trail OK. The
reporting party lost cell coverage and could not contact the 911 dispatcher to cancel the call for help. The
subjects were a father and son on a camping trip to the lake. They were prepared for overnight and got lost off
-trail in the snow on the return trip. They had a compass but no map. Three ESAR members headed up the
trail first and made contact with the reporting party within the first mile. The reporting party told them that the
subjects were OK and coming down the trail behind him. They then proceeded on up the trail to meet the
subjects. A second team with SMR’s Steve Allen, Tim Halder and Jonah Manning went in the field to provide
support. Both teams met the subjects within the first mile and returned to the Command Post.
OTHER AGENCIES/UNITS: 4x4, ESAR MANHOURS (SMR only): 18.00 MILEAGE (SMR only): 466
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SEATTLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE RESCUE
BERGTRAGE - JULY 2011
JUNE UNE 26, 2011: CLIMBER CLIMBER
INJURED NJURED NEAR EAR KALEETAN
ALEETAN RESCUED ESCUED BY HELICOPTER
ELICOPTER
According to the news reports, the 62-year old Seattle-area woman was about six miles up the Denny Creek
Trailhead, off-trail near Kaleetan Peak, when she fell around 2:30 pm, said King County Sheriff's Deputy
Richard Barton. It appeared she slipped on "loose rock and snow and she had fallen over the edge, about 40’ in
a gully, and was at the edge of another drop." While some members of the group held her to keep her from
falling over the edge, others performed life-saving measures. Initially, she was unresponsive, bleeding from
her head and breathing "very shallow.” Barton said the higher elevations in the area still are covered in snow,
and may have made the ground more treacherous. SMR was paged at 3:19 pm and Steve Allen, Doug McCall,
Gordy Smith, Bill Davis, Bree and Russ responded. While search and rescue teams headed up the trail to meet
the hikers, King County's Guardian One helicopter also was dispatched to the scene. At about 5:30 pm,
paramedics were able to hoist the woman and airlift her to Harborview Medical Center.
News Article:
http://www.nwcn.com/news/Search-and-Rescue-responds-after-hiker-falls-in-Denny-Creek-area-124571959.html
JUNE UNE 29, 2011: HIKER HIKER
RESCUED ESCUED ON RATTLESNAKE LEDGE
At approximately 14:30 SMR was paged to assist an injured
hiker on the Rattlesnake Ledge trail. Prothman responded
arriving at approximately 15:00 and headed up the trail. Upon
arrival at the ledge he found a 22 year old female subject on a
ledge approximately 30 feet below the top of Rattlesnake
Ledge. Conditions were about 55 degrees, raining and strong
winds. She apparently slipped and slid down about 10 feet and
then scrambled down to the larger ledge 20 feet below and
waited for help. Also on scene were two members of Seattle
Water shed who had ropers and harnesses and a former
member of ESAR and a current member of Anchorage
Mountain Rescue. Prothman was lowered to the subject and
placed her in a harness and securing her to a rope. A first aid
exam revealed no injuries. Approximately 45 minutes later
Williams, Anschell, Allen and Hartzell arrived and along with
other ESAR and Seattle Watershed personnel set up a raising system. Hartzell repelled down to Prothman and
the subject with extra gear and an extra helmet and she then ascended the rope. Both Prothman and the
subject were then raised to the top of the ledge by the teams. The subject was then escorted down the trail.
All members were out of the field by 18:30
SMR MAN MAN-HOURS
HOURS: : 30.75 SMR MILES MILES:
: 451
MRA MRA AWARD AWARD FOR FOR CONSPI CONSPICUOUS CONSPI CUOUS BRAVERY BRAVERY
BRAVERY
Doug Pierson represented SMR at the Mountain Rescue Association national
meeting last week. Doug reports that SMR team members were awarded the
MRA award for Conspicuous Bravery for their roles in the February Red
Mountain search and recovery mission:
• Russell Anschell
• Garth Bruce
• Tim Halder
• Bree Loewen
• Matt Wetzel
• Aaron Zabriskie
These members were nominated by Doug McCall. Everett MRU received a
similar award for their team participation on same mission.
Kudos,
Gordy Smith
Chair
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SEATTLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE RESCUE
BERGTRAGE - JULY 2011
Seattle Mountain Rescue’s Annual Summer Party!
July 28th 5:00 – Whenever
SMR's annual summer party will be July 28th 5:00 till whenever.
That's a Thursday night, in order to accommodate everybody's
weekend climbing schedules. It is (as is tradition) going to be a
SWEET BBQ at Bill Robinson's house (for the 36th year). Bill's got a
house on Mercer Island with a lovely lawn/patio/ boat house combo
and there will be a variety of water craft available and possibly a float
plane giving rides.
WHAT TO BRING: If your last name starts with A – L please bring a
side dish, last names M – Z bring a dessert. Can’t cook? Bring beer/
beverages instead. Significant others/spouses/kids/friends should
definitely come. Come get to know your fellow mountain rescuer
before you find your life in their hands, AND a little bird told me
they're going to try throwing Caley in the lake again. Should be fun to see.
Here’s Bill’s address: 8084 Avalon Dr , Mercer Island, WA 98040. Call me with questions: 206 919 6240. Bree
‘Trage March-September 1977
IT’S IT’S SUMMER SUMMER PICNIC PICNIC TTIME
TT
IME AGAIN
AGAIN
Looks like this was Chris’s first MRC mission from the Dec 1977 “Trage:
4

SEATTLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE RESCUE
BERGTRAGE - JULY 2011
HEARD/SEEN HEARD/SEEN HEARD/SEEN AROUND AROUND TH THE TH E CAMPFIRE
CAMPFIRE
Once again the Editor had to rely
on Facebook for something to
report in this gossip column.
One of the most prolific Faces is
naturally Bree who we see here
decked out what they say is a
“boa” - and I thought a “boa”
was a snake! And here she is
again with Jessica on Mt Stuart.
Boas are obviously very
glamorous, but they shed like
crazy. Everybody is going to wonder what kind of giant pink bird got blown in and
pulverized. Bree heading out, the Master of route finding crevase fields. “I was the
master of the kick step post hole” she says.
Livin' the dream! Our travelling student Brianna in Prescott, AZ says
“sometimes climbing NEEDS shimmer shorts and fairy wings!” And
here she is making he own sleeping quarters in her truck. Rumor has
it that she will be heading soon to study in Alaska. She’s ready for
climbing in Alaska but is Alaska ready for HER? Brianna also got in on
the Rattlesnake rescue here on June 29th.
Our professional “globe trotter” Doug Pierson Spent an entertaining
evening in Frankfurt watching a Russian version of People's Court w/o
English subtitles. And, just learned that despite how cool it is to be at 9,000m and connected to the Internet
via Lufthansa, somewhere over Hudson Bay the signal gets jumpy. He then represented SMR at the MRA
Spring Conference in Denver then headed to Redoubt Bay via Anchorage to watch Brown Bear hunt for running
salmon.
This is a BARN? You gotta be kiddin! It’s bigger than the house of the typical SMR
persons living in North Bend! Kecia’s horses are livin it up “first class.” .... sink, toilet,
shower, and commercial sized washer/dryer for horse blankets! The barn exterior is
stained - looks really pretty. Glor Van De Bist and Mandy arrived Tuesday or Wednesday
to take up residence - only thing left is paddock fencing and some tongue-andgroove
finish work in the tack room and bathroom.
On June 25, Russ and Doug
McCall and who else? were seen
or barely seen on a ski climb of Mt
Roosevelt shown here..
Elevation: 5835 ft / 1779 m
Russ Doug
OTHER OTHER RESCUES RESCUES IN IN IN THE THE NEWS
NEWS
SAR was never called for these two rescues handled by fire and rescue. Exit
38 Climbing Area - On June 10th a rock climber suffered a serious leg
injury when he fell 60 to 90 feet late Friday afternoon. Medics said the 21year-old
man fell while climbing in an area near exit 38 off of Interstate 90
around 5 pm. It took rescue crews nearly two and a half hours to move the
man in the rocky terrain and get him to a landing zone. He was then
airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with serious but non-life
threatening injuries. It was not known what had caused the man to fall.
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SEATTLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE RESCUE
BERGTRAGE - JULY 2011
(Continued from page 5)
Man crashes into tree while paragliding on Tiger Mtn on Jun 12,
2011 at 2:57 pm. A man was injured and knocked unconscious
Sunday afternoon when his paraglider crashed into a tree on Tiger
Mountain, officials said. Medics and emergency personnel from Eastside
Fire & Rescue were dispatched to the scene, about a quarter-mile down
Poo Poo Point Trail, at about 1:35 pm. Meanwhile, others in the area
rushed over to help the man out. When medics reached the site, they
found the man had regained consciousness. They treated him at the
scene, put him on a stretcher and hauled him out. King County
Sheriff's Office spokesman John Urquhart said the extent of the man's
injuries were not immediately known, but are not believed to be lifethreatening.
The man was reported to be in his 50s. Witnesses said the
man launched his paraglider from the summit and apparently had
trouble soon after taking off according to news reports.
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Wolf Bauer Founding Chairman
Ome Daiber First elected Chairman
Pete Schoening 1955-1956
Dorrell Looff 1956-1960
Paul Williams 1961-1963
George Sainsbury 1964-1965
Jerry Sabel 1966-1969
Jerry Newgard 1970-1971
George Sainsbury 1972-1975
Allan Errington 1976-1979
Jeff Hanna 1980-1981
Donald Goodman 1982-1983
Victor Ericson 1984-1985
Greg Prothman 1986-1989
Rob Jackson 1990-1991
Tim O'Brien 1992-1995
Doug Gantenbein 1996-1999
6
News photo
Brian Williams 2000-2001
Greg Prothman 2002-2003
Doug Caley 2004-2005
Timmy Williams 2006-2007
Doug Hutton 2008-2010
Gordon Smith 2010-