Volunteers conducted two Mount Baker rescues over the Valentine’s Day weekend
Teams from Bellingham Mountain Rescue pulled two people from the Mount Baker backcountry over Valentine’s Day weekend.
A call came in around 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, regarding a solo skier on the eastern slopes of Mount Herman who had received multiple injuries following an avalanche. People nearby were able to help the skier and move him out of avalanche danger, according to a social media post from Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council (BMRC).
Rescuers reached the skier around 2:20 p.m. and transported him off the mountain on a toboggan. He was moved to the Heather Meadows aid room at the Mt. Baker Ski Area. The patient was assessed in the aid room, in cooperation with the ski area, before being taken by ambulance, BMRC President Thomas Meade said in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
Around 10:30 a.m. the next day a snowboarder in the Hemispheres backcountry suffered a severe back injury after crashing on a backcountry jump, according to Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Slater said the rest of the group with the snowboarder was helpful and prepared.
Rescuers arrived and again moved the patient in a toboggan — this time to a waiting Fire District 19 (Glacier) ambulance, according to the BMRC.
Slater said both people who were rescued are experienced and were prepared for their situations.
For both incidents, volunteers from Bellingham Mountain Rescue were already at the Mt. Baker Ski Area when the calls came in, meaning they were able to quickly respond, according to Meade.
“This is not always the case, and our preventative messaging is that backcountry travelers should be able to take care of themselves for multiple hours until SAR arrives,” Meade said in an email to The Herald.
According to BMRC, people always need to be careful when in the backcountry. Just because both Hemispheres and Mount Herman can be accessed through the Mt. Baker Ski Area, it doesn’t mean they are safe. There is no avalanche control in the area, and it is not covered by ski patrol.
When in the backcountry, always go with a partner, and keep that partner in sight. Use good travel techniques such as going one at a time and have a way to communicate such as radio, satellite communicators such as inReach, or phones if there is service, BMRC said in a social media post.
Rescue officials warn that deep powder can catch skiers off guard — fresh powder can make people excited and cause them to make bad decisions.
“Snow conditions are still thin in areas, and unmarked obstacles may be covered with trace amounts of snow,” BMRC said in their social media post.
The Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council is a volunteer organization that does not charge for rescues. All equipment is purchased through donations, which can be made to the organization through its website.
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