A two-man search team looking for signs of four people stranded on Mount Rainier battled deep snow, frigid weather and ferocious winds Wednesday to assess the route above Paradise to Panorama Point.
Travel was extremely difficult with the team sinking 2 to 3 feet into the snow with each step, said Patti Wold, Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman. Visibility was limited, winds gusting to 100 mph, and the team member’s tracks filled in behind them as they negotiated the deep snow.
Two climbers, an unnamed couple from Springfield, Ore., were expected to return to Paradise on Monday after a summit attempt via the Disappointment Cleaver route. Two campers, 37-year-old Mark Vucich of San Diego and 30-year-old Michelle Trojanowski of Atlanta, were due out from the Muir Snowfield on Sunday, Wold said.
The four are thought to be equipped with tents, sleeping bags and other gear needed to survive, and officials believe they are hunkered down to ride out the storm. Though the four are well equipped, “we are concerned that we aren’t able to get searchers out until the weather improves,” Wold said.
Winds continued to blast the upper mountain Wednesday. Winds at Camp Muir were averaging about 95 mph with gusts up to 115 mph. Wind chills at Camp Muir dipped to as low as minus-40 degrees since the weekend. At Paradise, another 27 inches of snow had fallen in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday morning.
Wold said there was no word from either group Wednesday.
The incident command team, lead by ranger Kelly Bush, planned to send out teams as soon as conditions were favorable.
“Efforts are currently focused on organizing a team of skilled skiers and climbers who have experience in negotiating the terrain to Camp Muir in difficult travel conditions,” Wold said. “The team will be prepared to launch an extensive search once weather conditions improve.”
The plan includes a search by helicopter once flight conditions are favorable. The weather forecast indicates poor conditions for the foreseeable future.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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