4 hikers rescued from local mountains in last 2 days
SNOQUALMIE PASS - It’s been a busy weekend for search and rescue teams in the local mountains. They have had to rescue four hikers in just the last two days.
They are hoping a hiker who got stranded on Guye Peak near Snoqualmie Pass will make it down safely by midnight Saturday. The man, who’s visiting from Chicago, told rescuers that he went on a day hike yesterday, but slipped and got stuck on a ledge.
“This is not a very big pack, not particularly heavy, it’s maybe 20 pounds,” says Deputy Peter Linde, as he shows off an example of a proper daypack. He says a hiker should always carry what would need to survive, if they were stranded in the mountains for 24 hours.
“A waterproof bag to keep things dry if it rains. There’s some extra clothing in here, it doesn't weigh very much.”
Linde says most hikers don’t carry those kinds of necessities, because they don’t think they’ll be out in the cold overnight.
Henning Braess and his 14-year-old son didn’t expect to spend 17 hours in the wilderness, but they missed a turn on a trail near Mt. Defiance and ended up lost.
“One thing led to another, we didn't get back down,” he said, after being rescued Friday night.
Braess, who was visiting from Germany, admitted he should have been better prepared.
“I didn't have any maps around. I mean, we can hike well, but no maps and things like that. That probably was not a good idea.”
Linde says that’s a mistake many hikers make.
“Bring a map or compass or some sort of navigation. Don't rely on your phones. If your phone goes dead or you lose coverage, your mapping program might not work anymore.”
He also says hikers need to check the weather, and realize that conditions in the mountain can change quickly.
“It can be very warm during the day, 60-70 degrees. As soon as the sun goes down here in the mountains, it's going to be a 30-40 degree night,” he says. “People who are not prepared will get into trouble.”
If you’re going hiking alone, he says you should let someone know where you’re planning to go and when you’re expected back. He also advises packing the ten essentials:
"10+ Essentials":