Mount Rainier Poised to Begin Search for Two Overdue Parties

Date: January 18, 2012
Contact: Patti Wold, 360-569-6563

A search team of two traveled the route above Paradise to Panorama Point Tuesday afternoon to assess conditions in the area and look for signs of two overdue parties. Travel was extremely difficult with the team sinking two - three feet into the snow with each step. Visibility was limited, winds were gusting up to 100 mph, and their tracks filled in behind them as they negotiated the deep snow.

The incident command team, lead by Park Ranger Kelly Bush, is planning to send field teams out once conditions become favorable. Efforts are currently focused on organizing a team of skilled skiers and climbers who have experience in negotiating the terrain to Camp Muir in difficult travel conditions. The team will be prepared to launch an extensive search once weather conditions improve. Plans include an aerial search by helicopter once flight conditions are favorable. The weather forecast indicates poor conditions through the forecasted future. Although both parties are equipped for winter camping there is concern with the delay in getting searchers into the field due to the risk associated with difficult travel conditions, severe weather, and extreme avalanche conditions. Avalanche conditions have gone from high to extreme overnight.

There are two teams of overdue parties currently on the mountain. A party of two planning to winter camp on the Muir Snowfield over the weekend was due out on Sunday, January 15, Mark Vucich, 37 from San Diego, California and Michelle Trojanowski, 30 year old female from Atlanta, Georgia. A second party of two climbers on a summit attempt via the Disappointment Cleaver route was due back Monday, January 16^th. The names of the second party have not been released. Both parties are equipped for camping in winter weather. Due to weather conditions it is expected that they are waiting out the weather before attempting to descend to Paradise.

With the severe weather conditions over the weekend it is expected that the parties would be overdue. Visitors to the upper mountain are advised to stop moving, dig in and wait for better weather during severe weather and white out conditions. There is a winter storm warning in effect through tonight. The storm is predicted to bring 24 - 42" of new snow to Paradise. The road to Paradise will remain closed to the public at Longmire today.

For more information on weather conditions visit the park weather webpage https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/weather.htm. For a look at current conditions at Paradise visit the Webcam webpage https://www.nps.gov/mora/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm. Note that the Camp Muir webcam is not maintained in winter.