Injured Whatcom hiker rescued off Mount Baker by naval helicopter Sunday
A 39-year-old hiker from Lynden was rescued by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and a U.S. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island helicopter after being injured while climbing Mount Baker Sunday.
Deputies responded to the report of the injured climber at approximately 10:45 a.m. July 18 near the 9,000 foot level of the 10,781-foot Mount Baker, sheriff’s office spokesperson Deb Slater told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
The climber was part of a group of seven climbers, and she had fallen and injured her ankle, Slater reported, and though she was stable, she was unable to walk out.
The Naval helicopter was called in to help her off the mountain due to the location where she was injured, according to Slater.
According to a Naval Air Station Whidbey Island release Tuesday, July 20, the helicopter was able to land near the hiker, who was in the saddle between Colfax Peak and Mount Baker and air lift her to St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham with a suspected broken ankle and injuries to her neck, back and legs.
A Naval Air Station Whidbey Island helicopter crew later Sunday also rescued another hiker who fell nearly 100 feet will hiking on Mount Ellinor in the Olympic National Forest, according to the release.
So far in 2021, Whidbey Island crews have conducted 18 rescues and participated in three searches, the release stated.
This story was originally published July 19, 2021 at 2:44 PM.
