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Recovery of 2 Hikers from Ipsut Creek
Pierce, WA
2007-03-19
Mission Report by Alan Givotovsky
Monday, March 19, 2007:
The Unit received a request from Pierce County DEM to assist with the recoveries of two subjects near Ipsut Creek Campground at Mt. Rainier National Park (MRNP). We were asked to be at the Carbon River Entrance at 1300 hours on the following day.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007:
All responding TMRU members except Ken Davies assembled at the Cache at 1100 hours and drove up to the Carbon River Entrance of MRNP. Ken Davies arrived soon thereafter. The Carbon River Road is closed at the park entrance due to severe washouts.
Background:
Frances Annette Blakely, 46, her husband Robert, 44, both of Puyallup and their friend Debra Adams had hiked into Ipsut Creek Campground from the Carbon River Entrance on Saturday March 17, 2007. They had planned to return the following day but postponed their departure due to high water in Ipsut Creek on Sunday afternoon. The bridge across Ipsut Creek had been washed out in November 2006 flooding and, therefore, crossing over the creek required traversing fallen logs. Their hope was that water flow would be diminished the following morning.
On Monday morning they attempted the crossing. Frances slipped off a log spanning the creek and fell into the water. Robert immediately threw off his pack and jumped into the rushing water to assist his wife. Both Frances and Robert became trapped amongst fallen logs in the stream and succumbed to the force of the water. Debra was able to complete the crossing and alert park rangers at 1000 hours. A search was commenced and both subjects were found within three hours.
Robert was extricated yesterday. Frances was trapped in a complex logjam resulting in a more precarious extraction. Operations today included the use of chainsaws and rope systems to break up the entrapping logjam.
Deployment:
MRNP Ranger Glenn Kessler briefed us on the current status of the extrication. We then headed up the road around 1330 hours. The degree of damage to the road is truly remarkable. Several stream crossings and narrow up and down footpaths are required to navigate a previously wide, graded roadbed. In many places there is no evidence that a road ever existed along this path.
After about three miles we met the other rescuers. Our team then assisted with the evacuation to a Pierce County Sheriff’s Department vehicle, arriving around 1530 hours.
A full debriefing was held at the Carbon River Ranger Station. Many units were involved in this operation including: Mt. Rainier National Park, Metro Pierce County Swiftwater Rescue Team, U.S. Forest Service, King County Sheriff’s Department Guardian One helicopter and TMRU.
TMRU completed its own debrief while at a meal stop on the way back to the Cache. We arrived at the Cache around 1830 hours.
Submitted by,
Alan Givotovsky
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