Meet Bellingham Mountain Rescue: ‘As soon as it gets weird, that’s when we come in’
Every year, people are rescued in Whatcom County’s backcountry and alpine areas in the North Cascades. But who is the team that comes to help when something goes wrong?
Meet the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council.
“The primary mission is to save people,” said professional mountain guide and Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council President Jason Martin in a telephone interview with The Bellingham Herald.
The nonprofit, volunteer-run organization is part of a larger unit known as Whatcom County Search and Rescue, but the team specializes in conducting more remote, technical rescues.
“They’ll send mountain rescue when there’s a little bit more screwing around involved,” Martin said.
This includes areas such as Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, the Twin Sisters range, the remote Picket Range and backcountry areas along the Highway 542 corridor.
“Our specialty is managing issues on cliffs, in snow, or on ice in more mountainous terrain,” Martin said.
The team has more than 40 volunteers on call 24/7 to respond to a potential emergency. The team averages about 12 big rescue missions each year, according to Martin.
Skilled training
The volunteers on the Bellingham Mountain Rescue team have varying skills that allow them to reach people in hard-to-reach areas who have had an accident or been reported missing.
“That means finding a missing or injured skier in the backcountry. That means helping an injured climber. That means finding an injured hiker that is more remote,” Martin said.
The team averages ten trainings a year to be prepared for a variety of rescues. Their skills include rope systems management, climbing and mountaineering techniques and ski and snowshoe travel.
“We have skilled alpine and ice climbers that can respond to an accident in technical terrain where they have to climb up to the person,” Martin said.
Oftentimes, a helicopter is used to help evacuate someone being rescued. But if a helicopter is unable to access them due to weather or location, the team uses specialty tools to remove them.
Volunteers are trained to use a rescue carrier known as a litter, a stretcher on a wheel, that is used to bring injured people to safety.
The team also does preventive search and rescue work by patrolling the backcountry to help educate people about safety.
What to know if you need to call for help
▪ Mountain Rescue operations are completely free, including standard helicopter evacuations with basic medical assistance.
▪ Don’t wait to call 911, even if you think you might be able to self-rescue. Call for help first to alert rescuers and then cancel it if you no longer need assistance.
“We would rather know about a problem so we can start preparing to assist than have a situation where things go beyond our ability to save somebody,” Martin said.
▪ Expect a 5-7 hour delay from the time of contact to the time someone gets to you. If a helicopter is assisting, expect a three-hour wait.
Preventative safety tips
Sometimes, unforeseen accidents happen that require the help of the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council. But there are a number of things people can do to reduce the likelihood of accidents or injuries, according to Martin.
“Prepare for the adventure you’re going on,” Martin said.
Consider the following steps before taking a trip:
▪ Take educational classes ahead of time to develop knowledge and skills.
▪ Travel with a partner if you don’t have the skills to travel alone.
▪ Carry a bit more food than you think you need in case you get stuck.
▪ Bring a charged phone, appropriate clothing and appropriate equipment.
▪ Tell someone where you’re going and check in when you get home.
▪ Have an emergency plan in case something goes wrong.
▪ If you’re using a satellite tracking system, like a Garmin inReach, keep it turned on so rescuers can find you if you get into trouble and are unable to call for help.
