Search and Rescue teams spend Christmas Day rescuing lost, injured hikers

More than 50 volunteer members from King County’s Search and Rescue Unit spent much of Christmas Day and evening rescuing hikers in the mountains off I-90. The first mission was near Rattlesnake Ledge Trail, the second at Franklin Falls and the third on the Mount Si trail.

King County Search and Rescue received the first call around 2 p.m. near Rattlesnake Ledge Trail. A group had been hiking the trail when one of the group was separated from the rest. They called 911 when the missing man didn’t arrive at the summit. Nineteen 19 Search and Rescue members showed up for the search; they found the man, hiking down the trail as they were headed up to look for him.

The second rescue call came in during the first search. Three Search and Rescue members were testing a new snow vehicle, a 1972 PinzGauer, which is privately owned by a Search and Rescue member. The group was flagged down by some citizens who said a hiker had been injured by falling ice near Franklin Falls. The searchers hiked to the falls, waded through the water and contacted the victim, who had sustained a hip injury from the falling ice.

More than 30 members responded to help carry the victim through the steam and down to a rescue vehicle which transported him to a waiting ambulance. The new snow vehicle was used to shuttle rescue members up the road as close to the falls as possible.

The third call came in during the Franklin Falls mission. A man who had been hiking the Mount Si Trail had become lost on his way down the trail. When it became dark and he could not find the trail he called 911. Fourteen Search and Rescue members responded to find him and bring him down safely.

This Pinz Gauer snow vehicle was just being broken in on Christmas Day when its owner, a Search and Rescue volunteer, put it to use in rescuing an injured hiker near Franklin Falls.                                Courtesy Photo

This Pinz Gauer snow vehicle was just being broken in on Christmas Day when its owner, a Search and Rescue volunteer, put it to use in rescuing an injured hiker near Franklin Falls. Courtesy Photo