Rescue operation supported by volunteer group

Shortly after 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, Burien resident Lindsay Foster found herself in need of help after she broke her leg hiking with friends.

Foster is an avid hiker and has been backpacking for over six years. Before the incident, she was hiking with her friends on the Watson Anderson Lake Trail in the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. According to the Washington Trail Association, the trail is six miles with an elevation gain of 1,100 feet, the highest point being 4,900 feet.

“I heard a snap that I sort of thought was a tree branch, and then later I realized that there were no tree branches near me,” she said. “I didn’t even know that I’d done anything significant until I tried to stand up, and then I could feel it in my ankle, in addition to the pain, I could feel something very wrong.”

Foster’s friends decided to go and get help. She said she felt that one of the benefits of hiking on a relatively busy trail was that other people were around.

“It’s amazing, just one little misstep for me, a regular trail can snap your leg in half one day,” she said.

Foster said that she felt immense gratitude for the good Samaritans and Bellingham Mountain Rescue (BMR) personnel who took time out of their day to help her.

“My mind was very at ease the whole time that they knew what they were doing and that they were being super collaborative with each other, making sure everyone got to say kind of what they thought and make sure they weren’t overlooking anyone’s perspective,” she said.

Foster said she hadn’t heard of BMR before the August 3 incident and was impressed by their professionalism and dedication.

“If you’re going to hike in Washington, at all, you need to donate to search and rescue teams in the areas where you’ll be hiking. Every year, I’ve already made donations to the teams that helped me, and I’ll be doing very generous donations every year now,” Foster said. “For me, it’s insurance, maybe you never need them to come to get you, but they need the resources to go get other people.”

Bellingham

Mountain Rescue

Justin Mitchell is a mission coordinator with Bellingham Mountain Rescue, a volunteer organization that organizes community members to respond to search and rescue missions. BMR was first on scene for Foster.

Mitchell has been a volunteer with both BMR and Mt. Baker Ski Patrol for 22 years. He began his search and rescue work when he encountered a hiker needing assistance. Without any formal training, he used his mountaineering experience to help the injured hiker. Afterward, he joined Mt. Baker Ski Patrol to get better training and experience.

Mitchell said that BMR typically responds to 15 to 25 rescues every year. The summer months are often their busiest, with roughly three to four rescues a month.

Mitchell said they recruit “outdoorsy” people with a wide range of backgrounds but a unified calling to help those in need. They look for members with basic mountaineering and climbing experience who can manage three to four miles and not end up being part of the rescue.

During the August 3 operation, Mitchell developed a plan on how to respond with his fellow BMR team members to the mission.

“I liked the idea of sending a trail runner ahead with light medical stuff and a radio, so they can get eyes on the patient, do an assessment, and then be able to report back what’s going on,” he said.

For hikers exploring the backcountry, Mitchell recommends carrying a satellite emergency locator device which can provide rescuers with coordinates and make finding patients easier. He also recommends leaving a detailed map of where hikers intend to go and when they plan to return. That way, on the off chance they don’t return, others can notify 911.

Mitchell discussed the importance of outdoors enthusiasts and rookie hikers alike to spend time planning before an emergency occurs.

“They need to be prepared because it takes us time to mobilize. So we need them to carry the 10 essentials and be ready to be there for a few hours while we mobilize and we get to their location,” he said.

Mitchell said that he feels it’s important for people to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.

“We are in tumultuous, polarized times, and that’s what I like about rescue because when you’re out there and people are outdoors, you’re not thinking about all the stresses of work and politics and global economic issues,” He said. “You are just one with nature. And I want to be able to support people doing that. ”

Role of

emergency response

When members of the public in Whatcom County call 911 and need emergency search and rescue assistance, callers are connected with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).

WCSO has three deputies who serve as incident commanders for local search and rescue operations throughout the county, Deb Slater, public information officer with Whatcom County Sheriff Office wrote in an email to Mount Baker Experience.

“WCSO begins the investigation and determines the needed resources. The SAR coordinator then requests those resources from the volunteers from the appropriate SAR unit,” Slater wrote.

For Foster, Bellingham Mountain Rescue and Skagit Mountain Rescue both responded to the incident, Slater said.

“In all SAR missions, WCSO is the lead agency overseeing the incident, with the help and expertise of the Whatcom County Search and Rescue (WCSAR) leaders, who are all volunteers,” Slater wrote.

Slater said that WCSO received 45 SAR calls from January to August 10. However, not all calls result in a SAR operation.

“You can be as careful as possible, and there’s still a possibility that one day you’re just going to step wrong and you’re going to need some help,” Foster said.

To learn more about Bellingham Mountain Rescue or to make donations, visit their website https://rb.gy/7z1ssk   X