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Alaska State Troopers, Air National Guard Rescue Coordination Center,
and the National Park Service spent much of today searching for
an overdue climber, Jason Harper, on 16,237-foot Mount Sanford in
the Wrangell Mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
Harper contracted with McMahan Guide and Flying Service in Gakona
to fly him in with a fixed-wing aircraft to Windy Ridge on Mount
Sanford on May 4. He indicated he would be off the mountain by Friday,
May 7. The pilot, Harley McMahan, said he couldn’t pick him up until
noon on Sunday, May 9. When McMahan landed at Windy Ridge for the
pickup on Sunday, the climber had not returned. McMahan checked
the area for more than an hour, including its old hunting cabin
with a missing window, but found no sign of Harper. McMahan then
began an aerial search. Although he saw no evidence of Harper, he
saw a couple of bears and evidence of more where spotty snow is
encountered, about 1,000 feet above Windy Ridge Landing Strip. McMahan
advised the National Park Service of the missing person on Wednesday,
May 12, at 2:00 p.m. Soon after, NPS pilot Will Tipton began searching
with the NPS 185 fixed-wing aircraft to bolster the aerial search
for the missing climber. NPS pilots plan to alternate with each
other in aerial search efforts. A possible route down from the Windy
Ridge drop-off point, along Boulder Creek, was aerially examined
on Wednesday. Today, NPS pilots Will Tipton and Jim Hanna, using
a fixed-wind aircraft, searched the area around Windy Ridge and
the toe of the Sheep Glacier along the climbing route up Mount Sanford,
as well as the possible escape route down Boulder Creek to the Copper
River. The weather is expected to decline by Friday afternoon. Air
National Guard Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC) 210th Rescue Squadron
Blackhawk H60, also called a Pavehawk for its rescue configuration,
arrived at Gulkana Airfield at 9a.m. today to assist in the search
efforts. This helicopter has advanced search and rescue capabilities,
including forward looking infrared and hoisting. Park Rangers Rich
Richotte and Mason Reid joined the pilot, copilot, engineer and
two Pararescuers, or Parajumpers (PJs) to search the area. Recent
climbers have indicated that crevasses at 7,500 to 8,000 feet could
be a trouble area. The Blackhawk will focus its efforts on the climbing
route in these crevassed sections. A National Guard C-130 aircraft
will be in the air to provide communication linkage and refueling
for the Blackhawk. A high altitude rescue helicopter in Denali may
come into play on Friday. Rescuers have a description of the clothing
Harper is wearing, and his automobile was inspected to gather clues
as to what equipment he likely has with him.
Privacy & Disclaimer
Author:Jane
Tranel
Last modified on: January 23, 2004
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