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A couple stranded for second night at Greenwater?

Go easy on these people, where glenn got caught the conditons were really bad, 50 + mph winds, snowing ect ,,drifts were up to 30' high. they tried to do in on th 7030 but was too badly drifted even for the most experienced rider plus very poor visibility. They were in contact with glenn and his girl friend, just had a very hard time getting to them. I know the area well and knew exactly where he was. It was very tricky getting to them, The dot cat would not make it, had to bring in R&R's groooming cat with the most experienced operator around to get with in a mile of them. It was a very sketchy ride in the cat and not very safe at all. All in all they did a good job thanks to a few of Glenns friends. they had quite a few people up there trying to get to them, snowshoers are the ones that got the last 1/4 to 1/2 to them, the snowmobiles were having a tuff time,

I would take your opinion as credible, you spend enough time up there and are commited to the sport. Can you give us the approximate location where they were stranded? I am thinking of going up there tommorrow night and playing in the powder.

Could you make it up there, did you try? was there anyone who had a modern sled and reasonable skills who tried and failed. I am just really curious as to why it was such a challenge? I don't want to bash anyone but it must have been hard on everyone to have them so close yet unable to get them back promptly.

I now carry a spot connect so I can get a message to friends and family, I just hope if its me again that rescue comes much faster than it did for these people.

Ian
 
Just saw on Channel 13 that a man and a woman were stranded at Greenwater Pyramid side, Sunday night and are still up there?

WTF, they were texting authorities this afternoon and no one has gone to get them by now? I saw this on the news just a few minutes ago.

I do not understand why they would still be up there now? Where is the rescue? They should store some sleds up near crystal or the very least Enumclaw?

There ought to be some way to alert the snowmobiling community, having been in that situation I would go in a heart beat to save someone from another night up there. It said something about a fire but still they are reporting they are cold and should not have to wait for rescue this long.

I sure hope I hear more about it.

Ian

follow up

They gave GPS coordinates on Monday morning, it takes till 11:30PM to reach them but they make it out at 7:30AM Tuesday?

I expect better results than this! You are cold, potentially injured you managed to get coordinates out to rescuers and you don't get out till the following morning? I would suspect that the equipment is not up to the task ( phazers?) modern snowmobile's and good riders could probably have reached them?

My friend Michael B and big Jim were driving me to the parking lot 2 hours after Michael got the call, They didn't have snow shoes, hike in or set up a base station in Greenwater.


http://q13fox.com/2013/02/25/two-snowmobilers-stranded-rescuers-on-way/#axzz2M1WHTieQ

GREENWATER, Wash. — Rescuers reached two stranded snowmobilers in heavy snow in the Snoqualmie National Forest and brought them to safety Tuesday morning.
The King County Sheriff’s Office said the two — a 44-year-old man and his 41-year-old female companion — were stranded between Blowout Mountain and Twin Camps in the Snoqualmie National Forest. It isn’t far from the Crystal Mountain ski resort.

Monday night, one rescue crew was about 1 mile from the couple’s location, the sheriff’s office said, but conditions worsened with heavy snow and strong winds. Worse, the stranded woman was “apparently showing signs of hypothermia setting in,” the sheriff’s office said.
The trouble began Sunday when the couple was on the way back to their truck near State Route 410 east of Enumclaw and “weather conditions became so bad that hey decided to shelter in place,” the office said. “They stayed the night on the mountain in a snow cave they built.
“Monday morning, the man was able to walk out far enough to find a cell signal and he contacted his daughter,” who then contacted the sheriff’s office, the statement said. “The man was able to provide his GPS coordinates.”
Greenwater Fire Department spokesman Peter Linde said the man, after calling his daughter, then hiked back to the shelter to be with his companion.
The sheriff’s office said about 40 volunteers in the field worked their way on snowshoes, snowmobiles and snow cats.


Read more: http://q13fox.com/2013/02/25/two-snowmobilers-stranded-rescuers-on-way/#ixzz2M1ZBHW8H
Read more at http://q13fox.com/2013/02/25/two-snowmobilers-stranded-rescuers-on-way/#g8QyvvjeZVAm1qGp.99


Read more: http://q13fox.com/2013/02/25/two-snowmobilers-stranded-rescuers-on-way/#ixzz2M1Yq70TV
Read more at http://q13fox.com/2013/02/25/two-snowmobilers-stranded-rescuers-on-way/#g8QyvvjeZVAm1qGp.99

For the Record:

Glen calls his daughter with the news and GPS coordinates Monday Morning. Daughter calls Glens best friend who calls me. They are on the King County/Kittitas County line, but actually inside Kittitas Co. I make a few calls to our SAR Sheriff Deputies.....Page goes to us Kittitas Co. SAR at 11:02 am.....VOLUNTEERS have to drop what they are doing, get their gear together and drive 175 miles (3.5 hrs) to the Greenwater Sno-Park. Wait for King County to arrive. Briefing, etc...

Snow too deep after awhile, Up to the handlebars.......Call for a groomer. Groomer breaks down, call for a 2nd groomer. (all takes time, right?) 4 sleds push on, 2 from Kittitas Co and 2 from King Co....Stuck in chest deep snow.....2 have snow-shoes....Estimated 1.5 to 2 miles hike in the dark, no visibility, sinking up to waist with each step...Stuff I'm too old to do..Get to Glenn by 11:00 pm........

I guess the keyboard experts could have gotten the call and been there in an hour?......

Personally, I couldn't go Monday, but checked my phone and have over 50 calls and texts working on this project.....I left in the middle of a movie Mon night to arrange a 2nd team to come in from the north Tues morn if need be.....Glen had friends that left work Monday morning and were up there. They didn't get to him.......

Could it have gone better? Yes, I have several ideas on this I discuss with Kittitas County SAR. Greenwater snowpark is in Pierce Co. Not sure they got involved at all.

Just a few facts.....Big thanks to Dan Johnson, all his offers for help and his knowledge of the trail in question......Critics need to ride this route on a GOOD DAY before being too vocal.
 
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Lost between Twin Camp and Blowout Mountain? Wow that is a large area to be looking for two stranded riders. Blowout Mountain is far to the east over near Green Pass unless there is another Blowout Mountain in the area closer to Twin Camp that i dont know of. Hats off to those who through thick and thin found the two snowmobilers.
 
No weather check before going on the ride? It was all over the news and weather websights. Winter storm warning. Myself and others that ride that area know its always windblown and socks in. If the weather is sketchy dont go. Isnt that an intermittently groomed fs road? Its on the government meadows cabin door as such. Yeah right. Wasnt it at the last meeting that that fs road was braught up and the snojammers didnt want it groomed as most of them dont ride that area and it takes to much of the funds. There decission is partially to blame for the difficulty in getting to them. 2 of there own. They dont want that pot stirred.
 
"get their gear together and drive 175 miles (3.5 hrs) to the Greenwater Sno-Park"

Just to point something out here.....

"norsepeak" (Ty) lives 10 minutes from the Little Naches road and I'm about 20-30 depending on weather. Ty did you hear anything about this? Were you called out? Just wondering.

Ty and I could make it from the truck to anywhere in that area in 30-40 minutes. Add it all up, if guys like us are available we could be in the area in about 1.5 hours.
You need to be prepared. As I type this I have my bag packed and 2 sleds in the shop full of fuel and oil.

I agree with Ty that you need to work with trained personnel and cooperate with authority. If you guys want to organize something like this I would suggest you get yourselves registered with the local S&R so they will utilize your abilities. Please do!
Too many times I've heard stories of the so called "rescuers" becoming the "rescued"!

Ken
 
I knew exacctly where they were at

Unfortuanately the sars people tried to get in the "long impossible " way, they didnt know the area that well. It was a much shorter route going up the 1913 ( the back way to greens pass ) than the 7030 way they tried, I told them as soon as I found out they could not get to glenn that way, Yes if a few of us had known and gotten involved soone we could have probably save 4 to 5 hours getting to them. Even going in the shorter route lthe snow drifts were 15 to 25' high, Remember the wind blew up there 50 to 70 mph. Bill who is a very experienced and great rider had a tuff time just going up a main road. The groomer had to "break trail" thru these huge drifts just to get with in 3/4 of a mile of them.. I know this area very well, up on top its open and a great place to ride and have fun, WHEN YOU HAVE VISIBILITY !!
they were trapped inbetween the pacific crest trail croosing and the road that heads down twards lester and tacoma pass, It wasnt a matter of finding them, just getting to them. Even Chris Burandt could not have gotten to them with out help
 
The other important thing that my crew took away from this experience is ... don't depend on anyone else to save your azz.
 
Unfortuanately the sars people tried to get in the "long impossible " way, they didnt know the area that well. It was a much shorter route going up the 1913 ( the back way to greens pass ) than the 7030 way they tried, gotten to them with out help

Dan - You know that area much better than I. Early on I suggested going in from the north. Either Stampede or over Beeler. What do you think if assembling a team from Kittitas Co? Just thinking about the future at this point.

I understand Greenwater is better coming from where you live.
 
The other important thing that my crew took away from this experience is ... don't depend on anyone else to save your azz.

Just a side note to this, aprox same thing with better visability and deep powder snow dec 22 2012, i carried snow shoes on the back of my sleds for 2 years and never used them but that day was differant and getting sucked off the trail by 1 ft headed at a hill gassed it and ended up on other side of snowdrift aprox 15 ft deep sled (2013 xm) had just windshield sticking out , had to put on snowshoes just to build ramp to get it back to trail, my friends were stuck 100 yards away and i couldn't see them/ hear them.
45 mins building ramp just when they arrived (5 mins just getting back on top of sled when i stopped (IMEADIATLY) after other side of drift as snow went up to armpits and still not the bottom) so multiply a 25 ft drift and no vis i advise at least 1 person in any group carry snowshoes if faced with deep or expecting deep snow.
they work good and are probably on sale now end of year clearance like when i got mine. just a thought hope it helps someone out sometime.
Oh ya someone ended up following my tracks a few days later and looks like it might have taken alot longer for them to get unstuck. hope it wasn't you Ian lol.
 
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"get their gear together and drive 175 miles (3.5 hrs) to the Greenwater Sno-Park"

Just to point something out here.....

"norsepeak" (Ty) lives 10 minutes from the Little Naches road and I'm about 20-30 depending on weather. Ty did you hear anything about this? Were you called out? Just wondering.

Ty and I could make it from the truck to anywhere in that area in 30-40 minutes. Add it all up, if guys like us are available we could be in the area in about 1.5 hours.
You need to be prepared. As I type this I have my bag packed and 2 sleds in the shop full of fuel and oil.

I agree with Ty that you need to work with trained personnel and cooperate with authority. If you guys want to organize something like this I would suggest you get yourselves registered with the local S&R so they will utilize your abilities. Please do!
Too many times I've heard stories of the so called "rescuers" becoming the "rescued"!

Ken

Ken, we did not get called for this incident. Yakima Co. S&R might have, but we did not. As you know Ken, I always have my sled gased and ready to go all the time and I can be at Blowout in 40 min. Like you, I have seen "would be rescuers" end up getting stuck or hurt and adding to situation instead of helping. It's better if folks want to help to join up and become part of the "organized" rescue effort. That way they can be in the communications loop. Nothing worse then spending 4 hours working your butt off pounding around the mtns. looking for someone hoping to find them alive, just to find out that they self rescued hours earlier.
 
Ken, we did not get called for this incident. Yakima Co. S&R might have, but we did not. As you know Ken, I always have my sled gased and ready to go all the time and I can be at Blowout in 40 min. Like you, I have seen "would be rescuers" end up getting stuck or hurt and adding to situation instead of helping. It's better if folks want to help to join up and become part of the "organized" rescue effort. That way they can be in the communications loop. Nothing worse then spending 4 hours working your butt off pounding around the mtns. looking for someone hoping to find them alive, just to find out that they self rescued hours earlier.

You should have been called. People need to remember how close we are to those locations.
 
This all makes sense now!

47.08.240
121.22.465

Good riding? You're on the Pacific Crest Trail....Huge Drifts...Goat trail....Define "GOOD"?


Thank you, I had no idea until I saw the location what the situation was.

Wow, this is out there.

This all makes sense now. I just couldn't understand if it was a few miles from the cabin on the regularly groomed runs.

Ian
GoogleEarth_Image.jpg
 
Since I kinda started stirring the pot on this, I want to be clear, I'm not bagging on SAR at all, but even norespeak who is actively involved with SAR said many of the volunteers are not active snowmobilers.
Hats off to anyone who volunteers. I tried once in CO and then promptly got transferred to another project 3 hrs away..........not much use there. Same here. My profession doesn't really allow for it, but IF I'm around I would have no problem going to help and would love to get involved with SAR if I was able to dedicate the time needed to do it.
Jetjohnson is right, most of us don't know the "exact" situation and are speculating, but that does not discount the fact that in MOST situations I think you'll have a better chance of getting out quicker if you are calling on all guys with top notch machines that ride the hairy stuff just for fun, ie: SW riders. Sure some of us here are posers, but when it comes down to it, the poser isn't going to load up and go out on a rescue. He knows better.

Lets remember, not all SAR missions are because someone is stuck in imposibly deep drifts. Many problems arise from simply a machine breakdown/crash, or can't ride injury.

Couple things went wrong. First, the stranded guy should have worked to get a message out Sun night, not Mon morning. Maybe he did and it didn't go through?
2nd, never been on the 7030rd, but understand the guy was a local and knew the area. Should have stuck to the well traveled areas rather than going the north route, but hindsight is 20/20.
3rd, like someone else said, shoulda checked the weather and adjusted accordingly. Especially with a newb rider in tow. I did last weekend and decided not to go to WJ's with the family because of the forecast. Kept us from potentially being the ones getting rescued last weekend.
Bottom line, there were several contributing factors that could have been controlled by the victims before it resulted in an emergency.
First and foremost if the going is getting real tough, you already got that far. Turn around and follow your tracks back to a safer location, promptly, unless you went down a steeeep draw where theres no getting back up, you already have trail broke if you turn around. Don't have the "at all costs" need to get back to your truck. Just get the eff out of where you're at to a better/safer location.
Lastly, everyone on here is a keyboard jockey and has their own opinion whether it be an educated one or not. That's what forums are.
 
Serveral things could have saved 4 or 5 hours

Glenn did text his daughter sunday nigh saying they were ok, dug in and prepared to spend the night, they came in form easton - beeler pass- tacoma pass - 52 road to the 7036 ( I think thats the road # ) up to the top to the 7038 which heading east eventually turns into the 1913. The upper 7038 road blows in real easy, at severl places you have to cross country it down and around to get thru, their plan was to make the trip down the 1913 to the 19 nachess road and than go right and head back to greenwater. It was a good plan, untill the weather changed dramatically. Glenn said the winds were so strong it was trying to blow his sled over, 0 visibility, blowing snow ect. He did every thing right, the next morning he did text his daughter asking for help, Yes a few things would have made it easier , probably coming in from tacoma pass ( the way he came in) might have been faster, the SAR guys didnt know that, They were not familiar with the area to well. All in all , it worked out ok and every one got out, Big thanks to Bill his good friend and Ron from R&R grooming (who were not going to leave him on the hill one more night) who got his big ol piston bully to blow thru the drifts as high as 25 t 30' !! And yes the search and rescues snowmobilers were not real good riders, but conditions were tuff to say the least. Next time anything that happens in that area, I my self will respond differently too.
 
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