Watch: Helicopter Rescue Team Saves Two Skiers Stranded on Steep Ledge
Early last month, search and rescue was notified of two skiers stranded in steep terrain above Cascade Pass, a backcountry area in Washington state, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
The skiers, both 25-years-old, were on the Ptarmigan Traverse, a rugged 35-mile-plus route that connects Cascade Pass to the Suiattle River. They were stranded, and at the risk of falling, the sheriff’s office said.
In a YouTube video showing the rescue, the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team added that the skiers had sent several SOS messages saying that they were trapped on a steep edge. They were becoming increasingly cold, fatigued, and distressed.
The HRT launched SnoHawk 10 to help, eventually hoisting the pair out of the backcountry by helicopter.
See the rescue below. Keep reading for more.
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A flight medic evaluated the skiers aboard the helicopter. They were warmed during the flight and assisted in getting back to their vehicle, the HRT said.
The HRT is part of Snohomish County Volunteer Search & Rescue, a non-profit organization. Each year, the helicopter team flies more than 80 missions, working across 13 of Washington’s counties.
Neither group charges for rescues, although the HRT noted on its website that “donations are gratefully accepted!”
Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team
“A big thank you to the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team and Snohomish County Volunteer Search & Rescue for their professionalism, skill, and swift response in safely completing this mission and helping bring these individuals to safety,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the release.
All in all, it looked like a clean mission. And offered a reminder about the importance of GPS devices that can send rescue requests. You never know when things might go sideways in the backcountry, but with the right tech, safety can just be a helicopter flight away.