Two climbers were rescued from Mount Stuart after a fall last week. The two men were climbing the mountain on Sunday, Aug. 6, when one man fell as the boulder he was leaning against broke free. He was ascending the West Ridge route of the mountain, which is approximately 8,500 feet.
Tim Pate, 64, of Camas, Washington fell nearly 50-feet, as he careened over a ledge when the large rock dislodged, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. Pate’s climbing partner, Jim Schiller, 59, of Happy Valley, Oregon traversed down to Pate’s location and found him unresponsive.
Schiller was able to call 911 at 6:48 p.m. to report the incident and request a rescue. Because of Pate’s condition, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue coordinators requested a hoist capable helicopter from the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
The search and rescue coordinator was able to communicate via text directly with Schiller. The climbers were located on the southwest aspect of the mountain. Pate remained unconscious throughout the rescue response.
The Navy Blackhawk helicopter arrived on the scene by 8:45 p.m. and hoisted Pate onto the chopper, where a Navy medic was standing by. It was determined Pate was in critical condition, so he was flown directly to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Schiller was left on the mountain, hoping to descend the next day. The morning of Monday, Aug. 7, the Sheriff’s Office received a request for assistance from Schiller descending the slope. He said he was exhausted and felt unable to safely make the trek back himself.
At first, the search and rescue coordinators planned to insert the Chelan County Mountain Rescue crew via Sheriff’s Office helicopter just below Schiller’s location. The team would have to climb 1,000 feet to meet Schiller, then decide whether to ascend or descend the mountain.
By 1 p.m. it was discovered a flight crew from Naval Air Base Whidbey Island would be available to respond back to Mount Stuart and pick up Schiller. A CCSO deputy on the scene would also be hoisted into the chopper. Both Schiller and the deputy were picked up on the mountain at 3 p.m. and flown to Pangborn Memorial Airport. Schiller was in good condition. He said Pate was the more experienced climber during their attempt to summit Mount Stuart.
Schiller said he was not comfortable descending the mountain after Pate’s accident. The two climbers began their ascent of the mountain on Aug. 6 after camping near Ingall’s Lake the night before.
Pate remains in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center. He suffered head, neck, back, and abdominal injuries from the fall.
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.
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