Rescue crews lead lost snowboarders off Mt. Rainier
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SEATTLE -- Two snowboarders that became lost in a blizzard on Mt. Rainier are home safe Tuesday after being rescued earlier in the day.
Derek Tyndall, 21, and Thomas Dale, 20, were lost in a snowstorm Sunday when they were descending from a camp about 10,000 feet up. They used a cellphone to call 911 and said they were digging a snow cave for protection.
"The weather changed and we thought one thing looked like where we went and looped around, took too hard a left and put us in the middle of a 3-stage cliff," Tyndall said.
They weren't equipped to stay overnight, however they checked in Monday morning before their cellphone died, saying they were cold and wet, but OK.
"The scariest moment was waking up the next morning being like, we are soaking wet, this is not good," Dale said.
The men were only a few miles from the Paradise ranger station, but "it's not a straight shot" and conditions were treacherous, with snow up to 4 feet deep, said Lee Snook with Mt. Rainier National Park. Rescuers decided the two could snowshoe out with them, and the group began the trek to the station, which is at the 5,400-foot level.
Rescuers spotted the pair Monday at about the 7,000-foot level below McClure Rock on the lower Paradise glacier. They were about a half-mile from the two - close enough to wave - but were forced back by nightfall and dangerous conditions.
Thirty rescuers working in five-member teams went out Tuesday through snow 2- to 4-feet deep, Snook said. It was so soft members had to take turns "swimming through the snow" to break a trail.
It took searchers about two hours to reach the men from the Paradise ranger station, and they were back at the station before nightfall.
"(Our) toes are a little cold still, but it's mind over matter," Tyndall said.
Derek Tyndall, 21, and Thomas Dale, 20, were lost in a snowstorm Sunday when they were descending from a camp about 10,000 feet up. They used a cellphone to call 911 and said they were digging a snow cave for protection.
"The weather changed and we thought one thing looked like where we went and looped around, took too hard a left and put us in the middle of a 3-stage cliff," Tyndall said.
They weren't equipped to stay overnight, however they checked in Monday morning before their cellphone died, saying they were cold and wet, but OK.
"The scariest moment was waking up the next morning being like, we are soaking wet, this is not good," Dale said.
The men were only a few miles from the Paradise ranger station, but "it's not a straight shot" and conditions were treacherous, with snow up to 4 feet deep, said Lee Snook with Mt. Rainier National Park. Rescuers decided the two could snowshoe out with them, and the group began the trek to the station, which is at the 5,400-foot level.
Rescuers spotted the pair Monday at about the 7,000-foot level below McClure Rock on the lower Paradise glacier. They were about a half-mile from the two - close enough to wave - but were forced back by nightfall and dangerous conditions.
Thirty rescuers working in five-member teams went out Tuesday through snow 2- to 4-feet deep, Snook said. It was so soft members had to take turns "swimming through the snow" to break a trail.
It took searchers about two hours to reach the men from the Paradise ranger station, and they were back at the station before nightfall.
"(Our) toes are a little cold still, but it's mind over matter," Tyndall said.
Dude, Where's my car?
@worm dog dumb
they like adventure, sign them up for SAR ;-)
 @Komo Dragon Hey, why not? They look physically fit, they certainly have a new-found appreciation for SAR, and a lifelong lesson about how scary it is to be the ones stranded up there needing rescuing, so this could turn out to be life-altering in a very good way.Â
 @MargeGunderson It happens fairly often that grateful subjects turn into fellow rescuers - I think I know at least 3 of them. Others "pay forward", they serve now in hope they will be rescued when they need it ;-)
Most young snowboarders are fearless. I'm surprised that after the first night that they didn't venture out and point their boards downhill and go for it especially after the helicopter flew over!
 @Habaneroguy Not ever having been snowboarding, I wondered myself why they didn't just keep heading downhill once it was light enough to see the way.
I'm sure there is a logical reason, just no idea what it is. The article didn't mention any significant injuries.Â
Thank goodness this turned out well. Â They still haven't found one of the four from last year around this time that got caught up there. Â I hope people start looking at the weather reports before they go tromping off into the mountains from now on.Â
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 @wysoumible Wow.  Do you feel that same way about fire fighters when they rescue people from burning buildings?  Or EMTs when they work on people involved in car accidents?  I don't believe anyone involved in this rescue was forced into it -- as a matter of fact I believe they are all volunteers.  Maybe if it was your special snowflake lost on the mountain you would have a little more compassion.
 @wysoumible it does not cost 30k to get them out, so hold your horses
I've been climbing for 25 years and not casually but very seriously. I've seen countless people, experienced and novice alike do stupid things over and over. I've seen people climb Mt. Rainier without any regard for the huge storm that's coming the next day. When I go up, I check weather reports and avalanche conditions, very easy. I try to be prepared for most anything. I've had many close calls myself and am willing to take the risk as long as it only involves my life. I wouldn't want anyone to risk their own lives to save mine. I've always been willing to pay the ultimate price for my own actions and decisions. If I can't get myself out then I deserve to die. Anyone who is rescued should have to pay for it all. Idiots don't learn anything if there are no consequences. Just because you have a cell phone is no excuse to do stupid things. I'm very familiar with the area they were lost in, been going up there for many years. If you can't find Paradise from McClure Rock you need to stay the hell out of there. I've come down from Muir in whiteout conditions. If you have a compass and know how to use it the task is not hard. Cheers to all the people involved in saving these lives!Â
 @PowderhoundÂ
I agree somewhat with you, and I am so glad these guys made it down. Â
I could have met these two going up to Muir on Saturday.  My climbing partner and I skinned up to Muir Friday, stayed in the hut thank goodness, and skied down Saturday.  Our conditions too were white out with temps down to 4 deg F.  We knew that and had the proper gear--compass, GPS, maps, overnight gear with 0 deg bags, avalanche shovels, stove,  food, and experience with Rainier.  Still, it is very hard to navigate and ski in those conditions even with the proper gear and experience. Â
Coming down we met several young people with boards strapped to their packs and we wondered how prepared they were to handle this mountain in these conditions. Â I hope these guys ask for at least a good GPS and avalanche gear for Christmas.
 @Powderhound I've been involved with search and rescue for 15 years now, haven't received a paycheck yet.  I'll continue to do what I love regardless of how or why people need our help.  It's a pretty thankless activity to begin with, a lot more searching than rescuing goes on.  We get up early, leave our families to meet up with our friends usually in the cold and dark.  We get our assignment and off we go to search our grid.  After hours of completing our task we get back to base, load up our gear and move on.  We get home and off to our jobs.  It's great to see the joy and appreciation in these guys faces, that's what it's all about, unfortunately it pretty rare for a searcher to get that feedback.
 @oledawg  @Powderhound Thank you oledawg, it is people like you that inspire others.    "That others may live." Â
 @Powderhound So, if you sprained your ankle and needed help getting down the mountain, you deserve to die?Â
Yes, if someone made the same mistakes over and over, screw 'em and don't put anyone at risk bailing their sorry butts out, and bill them for the trouble their stupid choices caused.Â
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But miscalculating the weather, or even young men overestimating their own toughness and/or abilities to find their way out, does not meet the criteria for a death sentence, especially freezing or starving to death on a mountain.Â
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These two could be a huge asset in paying back their rescue expenses, by volunteering themselves for SAR, educating people on how even young, strong, athletic men and women aren't bulletproof up there, learning advanced first aid specific to mountain climbing risks, etc.Â
 @Powderhound interesting that the people who actually are involved in the rescue do not share your opinion... amongst other things, having to pay for rescues only delays the call for help and makes it more dangerous for everyone.
@Powderhound I agree with you to a certain extent, but, especially in early season conditions, it could be difficult to negotiate pan point if there is no visibility. A compass would help a lot though. People rarely carry them anymore. Â
 @138  @Powderhound You would think our cell phones would have them, since even the cheapest, most basic models have clocks, alarms, calculators, calendars, etc.Â
Boy you sure find out what you're made of after surviving the cold, hunger and fearful nights stranded. Thank you rescue workers for not giving up! I hope they learned their lesson to be better prepared. scary.
Great news!
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So grateful they are safe! Thanks rescuers.
SAR is a mostly volunteer orgainzation where members provide their own equipment and raise funds to cover expenses. I don't get reimbursed when I go on a mission.
And many of the individuals we help get out of unfortunate situatioins do make contributions to pay back those organizations that helped.
 @ZizzyBalooba Wow, at least your out-of-pocket expenses should be covered, especially when you volunteer your time (for training, practice, continuing education and on actual rescue duty) and risk your lives to help others. Kudos to you and your SAR family!
@ZizzyBalooba Its like speeding, if you speed, their is a monetary fine for that. If you need to be rescued, there will be a monetary cost attached to that. You say "many" make contributions, it should be all and it should be governed like a speeding ticket. You sign a document and if you dont pay there is a further more severe penalty ie: suspended license etc etc.
I think people that engage in this type of extreme sport should be required to post some sort of bond prior to cover the cost of rescue, if necessary.
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@StringerJoe I must have read a different story than you did. Where in this story did it say anything about them being drug users? Not everyone who snowboards or pushes the limits is a stoner.Â
 @Headwrench They pay a fee to enter the park. I believe part of that fee covers search and rescue.
@JAK @Headwrench That is not true.
Mt Rainier, like any other national park managed by the NPS has rules and policies. If you do not observe those rules and are negligent, you can be held liable for SAR activities.
This information is easily found and you are responsible for staying informed. I do not live in a bubble; I do a lot of the activities these guys were doing; but I also let people know where I am going, when I will return, I plan ahead and for contingencies. If the weather calls for sun, I still pack gore-tex pants and a rain jacket if I go in the backcountry.
These guys did not plan ahead for the conditions or contingencies. Everyone makes mistakes, but it placed their own lives and those of the rescuers in jeopardy, they should be held liable for a portion of the costs.
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http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/hiking-safety.htm
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/winter-safety.htm
@Accountability Its not illegal to go out of bounds. If you go into the backcountry at Mt Rainier National Park, then you are required to get a backcountry permit from the park service, carry a bear canister, and be prepared. They may not have been in the "backcountry" technically, so they may not have been required to get a permit. However, Its obvious it has been snowing up there heavily, and they should have prepared for contingencies.
Anyway, they could have done things different, I am sure they will next time. Like I said, nothing wrong with snowboarding on Mt Rainier, but they werent prepared for it.
 @northwestsurfer Good information I was even unaware of.... thumbs up! :D)
@northwestsurfer AMEN Sir! Its about planning ahead, being responsible for your actions and being "Accountable" for yourself and the others you may endanger by partaking in a "out of bounds" activity!
 @JAK  @Headwrench Sometimes they do have to pay.  I'm not sure, but I think it's at the discretion of the forest service.  I'm glad these guys are ok though. Â
 @Headwrench But you know the Government can't just make it that simple. They would have to create yet another department, staff it, fund it, then find a way to fence off these public lands to block or stop people from entering....
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See where this is going?
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Send em a bill YES! Ask Government to regulate yet another "personal responsibility issue" NO!
Good news! Have a safe trip out.
So glad to hear they are okay.......... A HUGE Thank You to the men and women dedicated to search and rescue!!
Awesome news. Search and Rescue men and women totally ROCK! I am so happy for the loved ones of these two young men. What a Thanksgiving story.
great work search and rescue... glad these young men are safe
Just saw on the news that the two were rescued. Great news and great job by the search and rescue team. Hope these two will give back somehow for their rescue. Good to see they were safe.
The only issue I have with these types of situations is, why are we as tax payers forced to pay for this? It goes without saying, I hope the boys come home safely (News is reporting they have been contacted) but how come you never hear a rescued person say "It was my choice to do this, I am forever thankful to the rescuers but, how much do I owe for the rescue?" I have a hard time, as a tax payer, paying for an action of someone else that they did willingly and was risky to begin with. Makes no sense to me at all.
 @Accountability Remember the vast majority of rescuers are unpaid volunteers. They do it for the greater good, and they do it gladly. Guess what, they do not judge the people they rescue, no matter how unprepared the subjects were.
 @Komo Dragon  @Accountability Excellent point. Just think if our  firefighters/medics stood around a burning house, or a crunched up car, asking passersby, "Hey, does anyone know if this guy is a jerk or not? His bumper is so mangled I can't even tell whom he voted for! What about the woman trapped on the second floor, frantically waving in the window â is she a nice neighbor, or a rude one? "Â
 @Accountability I hear yah.  But, those who earn a paycheck in Search and Rescue get paid if they are out rescuing or if they are sitting in a heated office.  Many of the search and rescue crews are also volunteers. .
 @Accountability Recreational users of Mount Rainier National Park and other national parks pay entry and user fees to support the cost of infrastructure and services such as search and rescue. In addition, snowboarders spend money for gear and gas to get to the mountain, generating sales taxes. The Outdoor Industry Association finds that on an annual basis Americans spend nearly $650 billion on outdoor recreation. So after considering the revenue and taxes generated by going to the great outdoors, I doubt that much if any of your tax dollars went to pay for the search and rescue.Â
We pay taxes for the betterment of society as a whole.Â
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I don't see bicycle riders saying they will pay for all of the bike lanes, or people with children telling everyone without that they'll pick up the tab for schooling. It would be a long and ugly road if everyone only wanted to pay for what concerns them personally.
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Everyone's taxes theoretically help everyone.
@tennistime Fair enough, but, Schooling is a necessity for human kind as a whole, biker lanes? Dont get me started :) Bicyclists should stay on the sidewalk, they impede traffic and rarely follow the laws of a vehicle. Going up on a mountain that is not designated as a snowboard area and is reckless in judgement at best, especially this time of year makes zero sense! Why would it be wrong that these two young men pay in the way of community service or something? I realise it would be cost inefficient to implement a program designed to track and follow up, but these young men should be held accountable, for embarking on something, willingly, thats dangerous from the start.
@northwestsurfer Ha! So we're going into a semantical argument, alright. I did say "Going up on a mountain" but a common person would be lead to believe a Mountain is of higher altitude, hence, up. If you drive a car safely, your not endangering others. If you obey traffic laws, your not endangering others. My argument is: If your actions are empty of proper planning, thought or obeying laws in place, you should be held accountable. If a person(s) needs to endanger themself to come and rescue you, for something you did, void of the above mentioned self accountability items, you should be sent the bill.
@Accountability
Funny listening to your arguement. This is what YOU feel, or believe how things should be. It is completely a matter of opinion.
Bicycles can ride on the sidewalks, under certain conditions (Below).
Mt Rainier is a national park, it has rules and laws that dictate what is allowed. Snowboarding down the mountain (not up, as you indicated; this would violate laws of physics since gravity is at hand here) is allowed.
Snowboarding is not reckless, unless negligence and lack of planning is involved, such as in this case. The boys that were rescued did not plan ahead for conditions, and thus had to be rescued. Hiking can be reckless, driving can be reckless; even crossing the street. So using your logic, all cars should be banned, hiking should be outlawed, and crossing the street be made a misdemeanor.
Maybe you should just stay home and remain indoors, so you dont committ any reckless acts.
http://www.washingtonbikelaw.com/amicus_personae/bike_laws_washington_different_than_thought.html
@RTNavy @Accountability @tennistime Actually, cyclists are allowed to use the sidewalks, but I agree they should not be allowed to.
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http://www.washingtonbikelaw.com/amicus_personae/bike_laws_washington_different_than_thought.html
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 @Accountability  @tennistime Bicyclists are a danger to slower pedestrians on sidewalks and are prohibited from using them. So what is worse, building wider roads or wider sidewalks for bicyclists?
 @Accountability  @tennistime Yes, one should always use sounds judgement, something these kids did not.   That said, the skiing in the summer tends to be a little bit more of a challenge, so this time of year is actually fitting for the activity.Â
@Accountability That's a particularly ironic comment. Your nickname is "accountability," and you're acting as a cheerleader for the "pay your own way" mentality, yet you decry the fact that Rainier is not a "designated snowboard area." If you don't see the irony (and hypocrisy) in that, there's nothing I can do for you.
@tennistime Oh, so should I expect that society will take care of me then? Our founding fathers fought the Revolutionary War so we would not have to pay the King's taxes. I agree taxes need to be spent, but not for this.Â
@justsayin Well, if you dont like the tax policies, then write your senator or representative. The war as TruthAdverts stated below, was fought to eliminate "taxation without representation". We won the war, so you have senators and representatives to listen to your complaints and the British Monarchy cannot simply levy taxes on us. The system is as it was designed. Unfortunately, it was designed before lobbyists and super pac's came to be.
 @justsayin actually our founding fathers fought the Revolutionary War so that they would have proper "representation" (a representative form of government) when paying taxes... Not "no taxes".Â
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