Identity Confirmed of Victim Found on Paradise Glacier

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News Release Date: September 10, 2012
Contact: Kevin Bacher, PIO, 360-569-6701

The Pierce County Medical Examiner has confirmed that one of the bodies recovered on the Paradise Glacier Friday afternoon is that of Michelle Trojanowski. A male body was found nearby; however, his identity has not yet been confirmed.

Trojanowski is the second member of a party of two that went missing in mid-January during a winter camping trip on the Muir Snowfield. The body of Mark Vucich was found on August 6 near the Camp Muir climbing route at about 8,000 feet elevation. Trojanowski was found on the edge of a large crevasse near the top of the Paradise Glacier, at about 8,200 feet elevation and less than mile northeast of where Vucich was found.

A second party of two went missing at the same time as Vucich and Trojanowski. Sork Yang and Seol Hee Jin, a male and female climing team, had registered for a summit attempt an were last seen ascending a short distance ahead of Vucich and Trajanowski. 

Trojanowski's body was spotted by helicopter during a routine resupply trip to Camp Muir on Thursday, September 6. Searchers scoured the vicinity on Friday and Saturday, turning up the second body and some climbing and camping gear. The body of a fourth climber was not found. 

The search will remain active but limited during scheduled flights and as crews are in the area. The park is interested in hearing from anybody who sees any items that may be associated with the missing climbers. 

-NPS-

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