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Search Ongoing For Missing Skier At Mount Rainier National Park

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Published Date

July 5, 2017

Searchers at Mount Rainier National Park so far have been unable to find a skier who plunged through a snow bridge into a creek below/NPS

Searchers continued Wednesday to look for a skier who dropped through a snow bridge into a snowmelt-filled creek at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state.

While skiing from Camp Muir to Paradise on Monday, the 30-year-old Washington man fell into a hole that spanned the rushing water of Pebble Creek, a park release said. Using an avalanche probe, his partner searched for two hours before completing his descent to Paradise to report the incident.

A ground search was conducted that evening, followed by an aerial search Tuesday. Neither located any sign of the missing skier. Late-season snow is creating unsafe search conditions. Search personnel will continue to monitor the area while waiting for conditions to improve.

The names of those involved were not released.

Park staff released some late-season snow tips for those planning to visit the park in the next few weeks:

  • Many trails and routes are still snow-covered and will be well into the summer.
  • Choose to turn around instead of crossing steep, snow–covered slopes. A fall could be disastrous.
  • Falling through thin snow bridges is a hazard anywhere streams remain snow-covered. Listen for the muffled sound of running water under the snow.
  • Avoid stepping onto snow cornices as they may collapse under your weight.
  • Falling into snow moats around trees, and adjacent to logs and rocks, can cause injury. Avoid getting too close.
  • You may need a reliable map and compass skills to traverse snow-covered trails, which can be difficult to follow, particularly in backcountry areas
  • Beware of avalanches! Unstable snow may slide at any time...not just in winter!
  • Before starting a hike, stop by a Wilderness Information Center or visitor center for the latest trail conditions.

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