GLACIER, Wash. — The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office released a statement today regarding the recovery of a hiker who had left on a solo climb of the Mount Baker Coleman-Deming route, a path that takes an estimated 11 hours to complete.
On Sunday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 a.m., Whatcom County Deputies launched a search and rescue (SAR) mission on Mount Baker’s Coleman-Deming route after receiving reports of a missing 39-year-old male climber from Squamish, BC. The man had embarked on a solo climb two days prior and failed to check in with family the evening of Sept. 28.
Deputies requested SAR assistance from Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO) and the US Navy. Thick clouds kept the helicopters from getting close to the location. A ground team of SAR volunteers from Bellingham Mountain Rescue (BMR) navigated the treacherous terrain but was forced to turn back due to darkness, steep slopes and worsening weather.
The search resumed at dawn on Monday, with Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey SAR conducting an aerial search. After refueling and briefing with BMR, Sheriff’s deputies and CBP AMO continued the air search while NAS Whidbey transported a BMR team to the area.
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Click for more informationAfter careful coordination between air and ground teams, the climber was finally located in a bergschrund near his inReach device. BMR searchers retrieved the man who had succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased at 4:24 p.m. Sept. 30.
The Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the body and will determine the cause of death.
“We mourn with the family and friends of this intrepid climber,” said Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley. “It is a heartbreaking outcome, but we are honored to be able to bring him home.”
This tragic incident underscores the critical role of emergency devices like Garmin™ inReach. Its real-time location data and enduring battery life (over 70% remaining upon recovery) proved invaluable in the search effort, allowing responders to locate him more quickly than would have been possible otherwise.
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Click for more informationThe recovery required the collaboration and expertise provided by NAS Whidbey SAR, Bellingham Mountain Rescue, CBP AMO, and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office SAR Deputy Coordinators.
Whatcom County Search and Rescue partners are dispatched through WCSO. All Whatcom County SAR members are volunteers.
“We are so grateful for the valuable work of these essential volunteers,” said Sheriff Tanksley. “I hope the community will support them in any way possible.” Visit www.wcsar.org/donations/ to learn more.
– Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (October 1, 2024)
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