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Missing Snowshoer Survives Overnight At Mount Rainier National Park

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Published Date

November 9, 2020
A snowshoer spent a cold night at Mount Rainier but was rescued Sunday afternoon/Rebecca Latson file

A snowshoer spent a cold night at Mount Rainier but was rescued Sunday afternoon/Rebecca Latson file

A snowshoer who became separated from a friend spent a cold night in the backcountry of Mount Rainier National Park before being spotted by searchers in a helicopter who guided his rescue.

The unidentified man and his partner had been on the Muir Snowfield at an elevation of 9,500 feet Saturday. The two separated shortly before 2 p.m., with the snowshoer intending to head down to Paradise while his friend was on skis and headed for Camp Muir. When the snowshoer failed to reach Paradise, rangers were contacted.

Three National Park Service teams conducted an initial search for the missing snowshoer until early Sunday morning in winter conditions that minimized visibility. The overnight low at Paradise dropped to 16 degrees Fahrenheit with 5 inches of new snow.

NPS search managers and Mount Rescue Association ground teams began searching again on Sunday morning. Clouds prevented launching air operations until afternoon, when a contract helicopter from Hi Line Helicopters with park rangers aboard joined the search. The helicopter team located the snowshoer in the Nisqually River drainage on the west side of the river a mile upstream from Glacier Bridge. Ground teams reached the snowshoer an hour later. Searchers worked to warm him while a helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island responded. The military Seahawk helicopter hoisted and transported the patient directly to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

According to Mount Rainier Superintendent Chip Jenkins, this search-and-rescue mission was either the 64th or 65th in the park this year, or about 10 more than usual.

“We are definitely up, and we have two months to go,” he said Monday.

As Traveler contributer Rita Beamish noted in a recent feature story, Mount Rainier's conditions can quickly change and disorient hikers any time of year.

“It’s an interesting thing, because on a reasonable nice day it just seems so obvious where you would go. But when the clouds move in and you can’t see 50 feet, it’s easy to get disoriented,” Jenkins said Monday. “The weather can change with shocking speed.”

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Comments

Submitted by Dale R Knapinski on November 13, 2020 - 2:41pm.

The snoeshoer was my son. Without the efforts of the rescue teams and Harborview Hospital, his chance of survival was zero. Hiking is a wonderful sport and a great way to enjoy all that nature has to offer. But Mount Rianier demands preparation, skill, and proper equipment. Never take it for granted. 

 


Submitted by Mark lacy on November 14, 2020 - 2:12pm.

Glad you got your son back. Thanks to all the rescuers, park service and all the unsung heroes who do these things everyday..


Submitted by TK on November 14, 2020 - 11:54pm.

So glad he was rescued. Having done that Camp Muir hike, I am confused about where he was found. West side of Nisqually River? From Muir snowfield? And what/where is the Glacicer Bridge?


Submitted by tahoma on November 15, 2020 - 10:43am.

TK-


Michael Knapinski was found about a mile west of Paradise and 1500 feet lower, just off the lower left edge of this map:
https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/Camp-Muir-Route-with-Get-Y...


Glacier Bridge is the large road bridge five miles above Longmire on the road to Paradise.  The 9th photo in Rebecca's article linked below shows the bridge and rescue location.  Paradise would be in the clouds upper right:
https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/06/photography-national-parks...


The Seattle papers are reporting his heart stopped in the ER after he was found.  I suspect he fell/descended to the glacier between Pebble Creek and Panorama Point while lost in the fog.  The upper Nisqually Glacier would be a nightmare of thinly-snow covered crevasses this early in the winter.
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Hiker-whose-heart-stopped-after-M...


Submitted by Michael Knapinski on December 7, 2020 - 6:40pm.

To all involved, 

To everyone that came together and worked so hard to find and save my life... My family and I are truly grateful! People like you keep my faith in humanity stronger than ever. I am happy to say I will be able to spend the holidays with my family this year. Truly the best blessing possible. 

Michael Knapinski


Submitted by Rick B. on December 7, 2020 - 8:41pm.

Good ya, Michael. Hopefully healing time of reflection will help with lessons learned. My wish for you is to continue to live and enjoy our great National Parks, with perhaps just a skosh less excitement?


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