Climbers Safe After Dramatic Rescue in North-Central Washington

Photo: Chelan County Sheriff's Office

WENATCHEE - Two mountain climbers were rescued after one sustained a broken leg in northern Chelan County on Sunday.

According to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, dispatch received a notification from a Garmin inReach device that was originating from an area near Cutthroat Peak, in northern Chelan County.

The message advised one climber had fallen and sustained a broken leg. The other climber lost his rope and was unable to rappel down off the cliff.

The Sheriff's Office determined the pair were climbing the Cauthorn-Wilson Couloir on Cutthroat Peak. The Washington State Emergency Management Division was contacted to request a hoist capable helicopter. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island accepted the mission. Just after midnight, they attempted to rescue the climbers, but were forced to turn around due to weather.

Chelan County Mountain Rescue personnel were also requested. Several members left Wenatchee at approximately 11:45 p.m., they arrived at the trailhead at 2:45 a.m. on Monday morning. They hiked in and located the victims at approximately 6:22 a.m.

As a second team of Mountain Rescue members left Wenatchee to assist, the weather had cleared and the Navy launched again at approximately 9:05 a.m. At approximately 10:34 a.m., rescuers advised that the injured climber was rescued and was being flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Rescue personnel escorted the uninjured climber back to the trailhead.