Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR Rescues Climbers in Cascades

Cascade Mountains, WA – On Tuesday, June 19th, the NAS Whidbey Naval Air Station SAR team was able to rescue two people on Forbidden Peak in the Cascade Mountains.

The Search and Rescue team consisting of 5 members were notified of two climbers who were in need of rescuing late that evening. The team arrived at the location just before midnight, and were able to locate the climbers, who were flashing white lights, near a vertical rock face at the base of a snow chute.

The SAR pilots made several passes to check power to ensure they would be able to lift and transport the climbers from the mountain safely given the temperature and high altitude. According to the press release, both climbers were rescued and were transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue has conducted 15 total missions in Washington State this year, including eleven rescues, eight searches and a medical evacuation.

 

The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island as search and rescue/medical evacuation (SAR/MEDEVAC) platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation. Pursuant to the National SAR Plan of the United States, the unit may also be used for civil SAR/MEDEVAC needs to the fullest extent practicable on a non-interference basis with primary military duties according to applicable national directives, plans, guidelines and agreements; specifically, the unit may launch in response to tasking by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (based on a Washington State Memorandum of Understanding) for inland missions, and/or tasking by the United States Coast Guard for all other aeronautical and maritime regions, when other assets are unavailable.