Thank you all for watching! Rainier is an amazing mountain and I definitely understand why people want to climb. To those who wonder why people climb knowing the risks, there's no way to explain it. It's a rush. And we're all different humans. What drives one person may not drive another person. I for one can't understand why someone would go into a cave but I understand why someone would want to climb a mountain. I'm adamant about making the proper safety precautions before climbing. Unfortunately, there are individuals who neglect safety considerations, (as evidenced in the Mt Hood incident. You can find that story on this channel) that make you throw your hands up. From everything I've researched about this story, they took all the necessary precautions. It was an accident that could've happened to anyone. Only thing is Stacy should've made it clear she wasn't comfortable. A realization she grapples with as she comes to terms with not speaking up. Addressing the question of why search and rescue personnel willingly put themselves in harm's way for those who partake in these dangerous excursions, It's a calling. Throughout history, humans have been saving one another regardless of the circumstances. We have millions of military personnel, police and first responders, and search and rescue teams that attest to this innate instinct. The Rainier climbing rangers actively choose this profession, fully aware that they are rescuing fellow climbers. Being climbers themselves, they comprehend the joy associated with the activity as well as the inherent risks. Even when the person isn't appreciative of the rescue, (As in the Grand Teton Rescue. Another story you can find on this channel), these dedicated professionals still risk their lives, driven by a sense of duty to help people in need, regardless of the circumstances. These people are the best of us. You can find the other videos about those video mentioned here: Stranded Climber Stuck on Mt Hood: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RcplnxpizR4.html "The Impossible Rescue" at Grand Teton National Park: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ChKbufQYhcc.html
Not at all it also has a lot to do with Mother Nature. The most experienced climber that has climbed the same place several times may be injured or killed because Mother Nature suddenly changes conditions that make it impossible to continue turn back or lead to injury or death
Search & Rescue is not just a calling, sometimes it's thrust upon you! When I lived in the interior of British Columbia, in the Canadian Rockies, every time I go for extended hunting trips, I'd always encounter lost hikers/tourists in the middle of nowhere. I always take it upon myself to feed them, keep them warm, tend to any injuries, and then lead them back to civilization, to either a gas station or a clinic. . . I have done this and do this, to pay it forward.
I spent a lot of years as a helicopter pilot in the Coast Guard flying search and rescue missions often in dangerous circumstances helping people who "should have known better". I will try to put the loss of that rescuer into perspective from one who has been there many times. When we would launch on a case, we never considered how the person(s) we were trying to save got into the circumstances they were in. It just didn't matter at that point. We were there to help save them, period. There would be time for "lessons learned " after they were back safe on shore. We knew the risks and willfully accepted them, and I assure you that Nick Hall felt the same way. He is a true hero in every sense of the word. God bless him and his family.
Likewise. RAF service.... we have to go out. But we don't have to come back. Mountain climbers are the most self-centered of people and complete and total liabilities! My opinion from countless search and rescue missions.
Man, if I ever found myself in an emergency situation, those rescue workers would be synonymous with real life angels once the arrived at the scene. These types of people are remarkably special. I’m grateful for people like that
The fact the group couldn't believe how fast the Rangers got to them makes me furious. Yeah, maybe you shouldn't be doing this shit and risking other people's lives If you are a novice at best. Try base jumping instead, no rescue necessary just clean up
@@babybear2395 what? do you think I'm some kind of fat acceptance activist? This mountain is no place to "get off the couch". A man died saving some dummies "having an adventure". What are you even on about?
@@friedsenseiabsolutely. They deliberately put other people’s lives in jeopardy… for what? Furtherance of their own selfish desires. Puts me in mind of petulant teenagers playing “chicken” on train lines or motorways …. Absolutely no personal responsibility whatsoever.
I'm a nurse, retired. I'm not hero material. When I see first responders , firefighters, cops, EMS and others go towards the trouble I know I'd be one of those running away. I've been in rough situations at the hospital but I like my chaos more controlled.
I'm so tired of people saying "the mountain decides if it will be climbed". It's rock, snow, and ice, it decides nothing. It's like saying a chair decides if it will be sat on. People make good choices, and people make bad choices, the mountain just is.
I think it’s meant to be more all encompassing, not taking the idea of a mountain and putting it in a sterile environment. A mountain means, unpredictable weather and conditions, rock and ice is also unpredictable. The conditions nature throws at you is what decides if a climb is possible. And then you either have the tools to get back down at that point or you don’t, some of those tools being reliable critical thinking and self preservation.
You are right however it just reflex the fact that you as a person has very limired power if you are climbing a mauntain or sailing a boat . Nature is more powerfull than you easily !
I don’t know if there’s something missing in me or something missing in them but I have zero interest in freezing my ass off trying to reach the top of a gigantic mountain
I was surprised by my curiosity being born in and stationed in Washington when told by a air crew survival instructor he said to stay away and off that thing it is only safe to behold and be seen from a distance
@@paulcrist7285- I’ve only been to the vistor’s center near the Lodge. It was my grandpa’s favorite mountain. He actually had a view of Mt. Rainer from both the living room and kitchen windows of his house. Sadly my cousin died on Mt. Rainer when we were in our early 20’s. They never found his body. Only his campsite with all his gear. It both beautiful and heartbreaking to look at.
@tylerthompson. I’m with you on that. My son planned to climb Mt. Rainier some years ago right after the mountain had eaten 3 climbers and also some had just died on Mt. Hood. I didn’t want to talk negatively to him but in my mind was asking why he couldn’t be content to admire the mountains like me, from a distance. He made it, but had a very tough experience that he was not anxious to repeat any time soon.
Thank You for telling this story. I first climbed Mt. Raineer in 1976 when I was 15 years old. We were climbing it as a tune-up for Mr. Kilimenjaro. Our party consisted of myself, my older brother Bob, two very seasoned climbers and their little sister Dick, Gary and Lori Talcott, local Atty Don Miles and renown mountaineer Willie Unsoeld. Willie was part of the first American expedition to summit Mt. Everest and he taught me to respect mountains, all mountains. I didn't fully understand his words until 3 years later when Willie and a group of college students he was leading all died on Mt. Raineer after being swept down the mountain by an avalanch in March of 1979... RIP my friends...
Willi Unsoeld's daughter Nanda Devi Unsoeld died from acute high altitude sickness during an expedition led by her father on the Nanda Devi peak in India in 1976. I had a friend in college who climbed - the risks involved are just not worth it.
Yep, even tiny local hill can kill. I say some mountains are easy technically and/or physically and relatively safe. But that is relative to other mountains. Not to local park.
Those who dedicate their lives to helping and saving perfect strangers are true HEROES. When one of these brave people die in the line of duty, the world loses a Hero
@@Powertuber1000 Job security for the rescuers.. Actually many times people who get themselves in such situations, they are fined and have to pay for the cost of the rescue.
My cousin, David Post, died on Mt. Rainier in 1967 along with his uncle from falling into a crevass on Nisqually glacier. One person in the three person rope team survived. I was 13 years old and he was my hero. I was devastated. Several years later I found myself an avid mountain climber. First did Rainier in 72 via the tourist route. In late December 73 me and my climbing friend, Jarl Secher-Jensen decided we would do a winter climb of Rainier via the Nisqually icefall route. We reached the summit without any incident although we were hours behind our intended schedule. Coming down was also without incident until we got down past Camp Muir. It was dark at this point and snowing hard so essentially a white-out condition. After hiking for hours I finally said to Jarl, who was leading the way, that we need to check our compasses. Turns out we had gotten close to Paradise but somehow got turned around in the white-out and were now going back up the mountain towards Camp Muir. Finally made it home about 2am, a good 8 hours behind our schedule.
Its easier than you think it is. Mountains aren't all up or downhill. If you climb Clouds Rest at Yosemite for instance, you go up and down several times o nthe way to the summit. Mt. Whitney is the same. When you cross over to the back side of the mountain, you actually go downhill for a long stretch before going back up hill to the summit. In clear conditions you can see that, but in white out it would be difficult or impossible to know for sure.@@Tempe1962
Boy ! That would have been a difficult conversation with Jarl deciding that you are going wrong way and figuring out what path to take next in the dark ..
Having lived in Seattle for a while and been to Rainier, its a stunning park. These climbers were extremely lucky. Hats off to the rescuers. They are freaking heroes. RIP Nick Hall. Another excellent video from Outdoor Disasters. Every story is so compelling.
Rainier is a mystical mountain. I had a very strange experience around it one year. Fate forced me into its foothills at midnight when the main roads south of Seattle were all closed due to a train derailment. I was traveling for a horrible but urgent surgery the next day and I was physically helpless. So many coincidences, like it had summoned me. It began to snow, threatening to trap us out there, & missing my surgery was not an option, & I remember the overwhelming feeling that the mountain was alive and malevolent--like a living manifestation of all the sin & evil of the logging barons, gangsters, & tech money of Seattle, ancient & eternal evil, some Cormac Mccarthy stuff. All this in the pitch dark, only knowing Rainier was there by its aura. A type of sensation I've never taken from land before or since. Very unfriendly. It is a seriously imposing feature that colors the entire region. If I ever climb it I will be verrrry careful and I'll probably pray to it for mercy about a thousand times.
why glorify this lol. Nick Hall and his family are not pumped about how lucky these inexperienced climbers were. A father and husband is gone, i swear the climbing community has a weird fucking death fetish when it comes to rescuers saving idiots.
I climbed this in 1999. My dad took me as a graduation present after high school. It is one of my best memories. We did a five day guided climb. My dad has since passed and I will forever hold these memories.
I just sat through a class regarding the lessons learned from the rescue side of this incident. I have to say that everything presented here matches up perfectly with the official version. Well done.
I really appreciated your follow up to being rescued. The mental and emotional toll of everything that transpired. Very good story and an excellent reminder of just how serious the sport is. It’s not just your life on the line.
A group of extremely selfish people leaving spouses, children and relatives then putting rescuers in extreme danger to rescue the fools. Sometimes it’s not all about you.
One thing I've learned from watching these mountain disasters, it's one thing to summit a mountain...but most people who die do so on the way down. This is so sad...
There is also something mechanically working for you climbing/hiking. When using poles hiking uphill, you can shorten them and become a human quad, leaning into the hill and being in an optimal state moving forward. When descending, you lengthen the poles but must lean back and use your upper body to control your downward weight. in a way that can feel unnatural. And often overlooked is that you are starting your hike and are fresh on the way up, and tired, possibly running short of daylight on the way down that leads to "get-there-itis"
There was a good reason that Claire McDonald did not go. She watched and set the alarm for the others who were injured. Telling the Rangers and having them call for help. Had she gone the chances of survival may have not been there. The rescuers did an excellent job in bringing these people back, but it is sad that Nick Hall died. Nick did what he loved the most is helping people. Prayers to Nick Hall's family.
I’m pretty sure Nick Hall would choose seeing his family again over dying for these people who made their own selfish choice. And mountain climbing is selfish. Don’t try to kid yourself that it’s anything more.
The whole point of being roped up is to prevent this sort of thing. It's mind boggling and hints at lack of experience and improper training. I used to work with Tacoma Mountain Rescue and we did rescues on Rainier. I lasted about a year before growing resentful of people putting everyone at risk for their own lack of judgement. Things can go wrong for anyone, anywhere, and at any time. But if you're just stupid after a while it gets hard to have any sympathy.
Sadly, Mr. Super experience celebrity teacher Willie Unsoeld unalived his WHOLE CLASS on Mt. Rainier from The Evergreen State College. Men are reckless show offs whether experienced or not! This was in 1980. Outdoor Ed. Then his wife became a senator on his name. Not sure why. It was mass death.
Ditto...I see more of this..I've lived in Washington and have been all through the mountains for over 55yrs and it amazes me how many folks make dumb decisions or are too inexperienced for the task ahead..Mt Hood comes to mind..Especially when they get caught in bad weather..Then folks have to risk themselves to save these folks..By the way they should have to pay for the rescue...Nobody held a gun to their heads to climb...
First time I saw cliff diving at a quarry. A jump called suicide. Because you had to run fast To clear rocks. 75 feet . The first 2 minutes I was there. Guy bounced on rocks 3 times before hitting the water . His friend on the other side of cliff Yelled for me to jump in to help him. I said no way. Didn’t I u see him bounce ? No f ing way. I’m I doing that. They. Cussed me out saying they were going to kick my ass. I didn’t budge . I’ve never even jumped off a tiny jump before . I was14. Finally he bubbled up all bloody But it seemed like 10 minutes. Any way I did the rope swing. That was off. A 40 foot I was done. After that .
Danger is relative. For a beginner, driving in traffic is very dangerous. With the appropriate skills and equipment climbing Rainer is fun. As a total rookie, I tagged along with professional guides for a week of training on Rainer about 20 years ago. We discovered the ice caves in the crater.
It is in man’s makeup to push the envelope of achievement.there will always be those who are driven to extend their capabilities and explore their limits and those of the physical world. But I still don’t understand those who sky dive, base jump in a flying suit or climbing the highest mountain peaks like Everest, K2, Annapurna, Lhotse, Mount Elbrus, Mont Blank, et al. Those people are adrenaline junkies and narcissists, in my view. They should never marry or have children to mourn their deaths. And I don’t want to hear that it’s dangerous to drive your car or it’s preferable to laying on the couch.
Ever been rescued? I have been rescued in a sense. From a heart attack. People can be so heroic...so caring. Completely selfless. It is very humbling. Gods Angels.
@@WaterfallWhispering How about you think of the affect of these peoples selfish behavior on the family whose son died ? Climbers are self obsessed, they really don't consider other people , most of those who indulge in extreme sports don't consider that their actions might cause considerable grief , like junkies, they are so addicted to thrill seeking to care about what might be the consequences of their risk taking . However most junkies don't usually have to be rescued by helicopters at a height of 11, 000 feet.
This is far and away one of the best stories outdoor disasters has ever uploaded to RU-vid! That’s saying a lot because this is RU-vids best channel of this type and has brought us many stories! The death of Nick Hall is both tragic and shocking! Don’t recall many instances of a rescuer losing their life trying to save others but it underscores how dangerous these rescues are! Great story of a daring rescue but my heart aches for Nick Halls family! Kudos to the helicopter pilots!
What an tragic and wonderful story. The poor ranger that lost his life is a true hero, not many people in this world can be a real hero but he was. God bless him and his family. God bless everyone in this story. Hang in there everyone.
It must have been hard to find peace with the one rescued guy stalking them. And the brother was gracious enough to take him bear hunting….no way I’d want that bad ju-ju guy to accompany any of my outdoor activities, not even planting petunias
What a great storyteller! I've climbed Rainier several times and I'll tell you accidents happen on the way down because your tired and the snow is soft. Back in the early 80's 13 people were killed in a rock avalanche on the mountain. They say it has all the dangers of Mckinley.
I used to live in Calgary Alberta. My adult son suddenly died and i attended a weekly grief support group for a few months. Of the 18 of us parents that started together, (6 of which were couples) 10 of the parents were there because their adult child had lost their life either from an avalanche or a climbing accident in the nearby Rockies.
I soloed it in August 1995 or so but followed a roped team. Started shortly after midnight climbing by headlamp much of the way. Sunrise on top was amazing. We headed down quickly and made it without incident. Perfect weather. At that time I'd probably already climbed a hundred or more peaks in Canadian Rockies and was much more experienced than the roped team. We followed a well beaten route up from Paradise. Was a great day! I've since done hundreds of other peaks, including Whitney, Hood, Glacier Peak, Grand Teton, Matterhorn, Mt Blanc and Mt Robson and others. Still here, never rescued. Planning, experience and some luck served me well.
Whew, I barely breathed throughout that whole story! It's about 2:30am down here in Brasil but it's too hot to sleep so thank you for keeping me company. All of the rescue team was outstanding and my heart hurt to know that Nick Hall had passed while trying to save them, the ultimate selfless act. May his friends and family and all who knew him find Peace in his memory, he seemed like an amazing human being. As always your humane approach to storytelling and your poetic language make these videos such a pleasure to watch, even if some almost make me cry or scare the beejeebies outta me!
Ugh the worst part of this whole story is an innocent person that was just helping to rescue them died. People are so selfish putting innocent people in harm’s way to help rescue them if they get in danger.
Do you have any idea how many people in the service fields or just innocent bystanders die putting out fires or standing in the roadway to help you if you are in need putting their own lives in danger? Does that make you selfish? They are there to save lives! That is the adrenaline that keeps them going. Everyone wants to go home to their families, but I find it very offensive that you would have any negative thoughts on this event. Nick Hall gave his life but like many in the field of work he was in he knew the potential risk and after weighing that cost in his mind went up the mountain to assist anyway. Thank you, Nick Hall and others like him.
@@ReneelwaringHaving a firefighter save someone from a fire is very different than having someone save selfish people who put themselves in a risky situation. Unless you purposefully have unsafe wiring in your home or are a closet arsonist, having a fireman save you is not selfish.
Agreed. Climbers go into hideous situations and then expect someone to come save their bacon. I don't think these climbers were terrible people, but they were selfish. Anyone who climbs anything for crowing rights is potentially putting others at risk of dying.
You do know that many of these rescuers climb recreationally in their down time right? It’s their love for the sport is one of the reasons they become rescuers in the first place.
@@Reneelwaring you are full of bs. Washington State Forest Rangers and rescuers do not do it for the "adenaline rush" and should not be exploited in that manner. Nobody should put their lives in danger for idiots from Texas or elsewhere who do not acknowledge or heed weather warnings. You live in a very self-conceited world, so it would be very kind thing if you fell in a crevasse of your own.
Good morning! Thank you for the video. I'm glad that the four of them made full recoveries and survived their ordeal on Ranier. It's horrible what happened to Nick while the rescue was taking place. I hope and pray his family will be able to find comfort and peace, and may Nick Rest in peace 🙏🕊️. I look forward to seeing your next video!
On the edge of my seat this whole video! Very sad hearing about Nick, and glad for all the survivors, without those brave rescuers, mountaineers and rangers might not be here. The way your videos are presented are always intriguing, interesting, always flow so well - don't care if I've seen or heard the story before, yours are a whole new way of telling the story - Thank you!
Very observant Roxy however please remember these rescuers are full time rescuers who love doing their job. A tricky job is a more challenging and most often (disclaimer) more rewarding and satisfying job.
@@thestruggler3338 we know that. They should be rescuing people in natural disasters or atrocities in our society not people who risk their lives just for “adventure”.
@@roxannevlogs7329it’s pretty funny that the name of the rescue team is Mount Rainer Climbing Rangers. They are supposed to rescue climbers in Mt. Rainer. The climbers have had incredible bad luck. At least they feel alive when reaching the top. Unlike someone who sits in a chair all day doing work like a robot.
I live in WA and enjoy seeing the mountain everywhere I go. I am sorry this tragedy happened, especially send my sincere condolences to Nick's family and friends. What a rescue mission that was indeed. anyone can slip. and a fall usually has consequences. This documentation proves that. and it also proves that every life matters. and that was dangerous work they did there. The mountains are a force combined with the weather, just as is the sea in a storm. The elements of this earth needs respect. caution and care. So happy the team made it out, and are all ok. May the light of God surround you, May the love of God enfold each of you, May the power of God Protect you and wherever you are may you know God is with you. amen.
I climbed Mt Rainier a few times. I have to say late summer is probably the most unnerving time of year to climb it. When you make it to the glacier sections, you can occasionally hear a torrent of a stream below you under the ice. If it were to break and you fell in, it would probably be game over.
Rainier is a beast. I got winded off in 2014 (plus it was kicking my Texas living ass). Weather changes fast, hike up in shorts, was in the 20s a few short hours later. I have not made it back. I need to change that. RIP Mr. Hall, you are a hero!
I agree. I climbed Whitney in 2013. We had the reverse issue. It was 38F at base camp@12K feet, but by the time we hit the summit it was 95F. Layers are a life saver. Also, I was the only one out of our group of 5 that had a Mountain Hardware insulated (front and back) jacket that had paper thin sleeves and hood. Because of that, I didn't get the serious sunburn the others did. I was grateful at my luck on that one.
Don't go back. Why would you want to revisit the scene of a near death scenerio? Join the Red Cross as a volunteer who helps after disasters. You are on the scene, helping people who are injured and it can be dangerous. It's exciting.
I think these thrill seekers need to take responsibility for their own poor choices and arrange their own rescues beforehand, if needed. My dad used to warn me, "You will get out of jail the same way you get into jail: On your own." This is how they need to think about these forays.
We lose some of our best this way, every year, and it's always sad, because they're always good people with many good years in front of them. Condolences to Nick's family. Props to Search & Rescue.
This is ABSOLUTE MADNESS!! I don’t care how much training or experience you have, to put yourself in a position of extreme danger and possible death is outrageous! I will NEVER understand the mindset of people who do these kinds of things and call it sport or recreation.😳🤯
They don't just put themselves in danger but also the rescuers. Nick Hall would probably still be alive today if not for these thrill seekers. They should feel tremendous guilt about that.
These people do NOT THINK!!! They also do not value life enough. Even if they do not value their own lives, they need to think about their families, friends and the rescuers. SAVE THE RESCUERS !!!! People need to stop doing stupid stuff and we need to call it like it is.
I ALMOST FELL FROM AN 800FT CLIFF WHILE ROCK CLIMBING. It was the absolute scariest hour in my life getting off the face I almost departed. Now 73, I look back at all of those close calls in life, and risks I took for the foolish adventure. 4 Years of Navy... I found the inside of the core of Mnt Vesuvius to be very fulfilling . 2 days of Volcano Rescue at Mt Etna, and the Volcano won, by keeping anyone from rescue by Sea. They all got out by Land. Ya gotta see a 65,000 ft column of Blazing fireballs, Lightning all around the cone. By going onto the steep slope of the inside of the cone, you step into ash that wants to skate you to the edge. More scary education
I was taught that the less experienced/ weaker climbers are supposed to be positioned in the front/or just behind the leader, and the pace is set by them. Most of the tragedies on mountains come from not following this rule. You certainly don’t put the least experienced in the rear!
You don't put least experienced in the rear as a rope team may do a wheel and leader is last while former last is leader. Also front or back person will be the one doing the anchor.
If there is a shed of WEAKNESS in you, you have NO business on the side of a mountain. Mental retardation, on the other hand, is a prerequisite for the sport.
I really can’t understand why there always has to be requisite rescue people standing by-risking their own lives to save people who are foolish enough to climb a treacherous mountain just so they can say they climbed it. Nick Hall was someone’s son, a brother to siblings and perhaps even a father himself. If he was going to die rescuing someone, then it should have been for a person or persons who weren’t knowingly risking someone else’s life just so they could prove something to themselves… and others. Was a photo, a social media post and a flag really worth it? I think not. In my mind, at the very worst, it’s homicide by hubris. At the very least, it’s utter selfishness. If I were the mother or wife of Hall, I don’t think I could ever look at that mountaineering group as anything but foolish young people who needlessly caused my son (or husband) to die. I just hope that none of them ever “did a Rainer” again. I know I never would because I’d be thinking of Nick Hall every single step I took. Oh, just watched the end of this and I have to reply to Stacy’s comments, by saying, of course what you did doesn’t make you “any less worthy of love.” Guilt and shame is never something to indulge in. But that’s not the point… or the lesson here. Just tell us you’ll never again knowingly risk another person’s life again by making the utterly foolish and selfish decision to climb a mountain that when you climbed it, had already claimed over 100 lives.
now now MrJenkins, we can not simply wrap ourselves in 'bubble wrap' and tread on eggshells our whole live can we? That's just does not cut it for some people. Clearly your lengthy rant indicates you are not one of these people. This is not free solo climbing and the rescuers are rescuers for a reason. They love the challenge and love their job. Mr jenkins, I advise you to sit up from your cozy gaming chair, put down your bottle of coke and climb that damn mountain....
@@thestruggler3338: You're deluded. Not climbing a mountain means you wrap yourself in bubble wrap? Deary me. Wake up man - there are very real and unavoidable dangers in people's lives - these idiotic climbers invite danger - perhaps their lives are too easy; bubble wrap soft.
Am I deluded? Lets simply agree that some folks like yourself ,for example, are Mr play it safe-family focused office worker pushing a pointless pitch for more pennies. Others are merely climbing pitches of rock safely and cautiously for pure pleasure. @@cathlaurs9754
It infuriates me that adrenaline junkies put the lives of those having to rescue them at risk. Not only that but taxpayers foot the bills when they need to be rescued. Personally I believe these people are selfish and immature narcissists who don't care about anything but getting their thrills. 🤷
@sissyroxx: I agree. It also annoys me that these stories are told as 'tales of survival' - well, no actually, these people are not in a war zone - they choose to do this. They are not heroes, neither are their deaths tragic, only wasteful and stupid. Other people risk their lives trying to rescue them - what hubris to put others in such a situation.
@@barbarahenninger6642 How is that bitching about being a taxpayer? There simply are more important things, that money could be used for, then saving morons (that often spend a fortune for the trip) from a dangerous situation they willingly brought themselves in. I wish people, who still live with their parents, would stop trying to explain grown ups, how the world works.
The US Army helicopter crews should also be recognized. One of the unique attributes of Mt. Rainier is that Joint base Lewis McChord (Previously known as McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis) are very close by. Just saying I was born and raised in in Seattle.
My condolences to the Hall family, It's incredible how they were able to complete the mission and save others given everything that had occurred. Still when I think about it if I were a rescuer I think I'd rather go out in an epic rescue where we saved all the others than losing everyone and ourselves, I think he passed away doing something he loved, not many of us can say that. It's important for survivors to remember the huge your role you can be when you're with a team despite your experience and how vital time really is. McDonald staying back brought rescue quicker, Stacy waking up first and initiating the assessment of everyone around her aided rescuers greatly and helped keep Noel anchored, and in a twist of fate or luck Noel literally saved the lives of every summiteer on her team that day. The men saved those girls from horrendous injuries by being in the positions they chose on the descent and could have possibly saved their lives. I couldn't imagine as a female with little upper body strength using only one leg and a pick axe to climb out of a crevice.
That was a sad story. I would feel terrible if someone died trying to rescue me. When I was young I climbed Rainier, but I took the Disappointment Cleaver route even though I was experienced in mountaineering. Still being unfamiliar with the mountain I decided on the easiest route and to go with a couple I'd met on the John Muir Trail earlier that Summer. Both were inexperienced and it was their first time too. However, the term ‘easiest’ does not mean it is easy, it still covers 9000 feet of elevation gain has glacier. Everything went fine until we got near the summit and the couple I was climbing with both were complaining of headaches, first sign of altitude sickness, something they didn't suffer from on Mt. Whitney which was slightly taller than Rainier. I told them to purse their lips and create back pressure into their lungs and their symptoms went away. Goes to show that just because you didn't get sick before doesn't mean you won't now. So by doing that we made the summit, but I knew we needed to get down to lower elevation before night, but it was August and not much snow and we made it back to Camp Muir with no further problems. They thanked me for my tip on breathing, but if they had become nauseous I would have turned them back around. I learned the back pressure tip from a nurse who treated people with COPD. It works, problem is you cannot sleep while pursing your lips creating back pressure.
You know that trick with breathing is a US thing, no one bothers to do such things in Nepal or Pakistan or India etc. If they had light headache I would give them paracetamol plus ibuprofen tablets. In above mentioned Asia they have heavy does pills, max 3 per 24h or you need new liver.
I've been on Emmons Glacier route a few times, both as a climber and as a leader, and I don't remember anything steeper than 30%. It's an easy walk-up, which makes it quite dangerous for over-confident beginners. They do not have a clue how to recover from inevitable mistakes, and then a tiniest slip snowballs into a catastrophe. Alas, not the first time, not the last.
Yikes!!! Scary stuff 😮 For those who wish to engage in this activity, I wish them good luck!! I have admired many mountains from down below, in relative safety. Once again, thank you for another awesome and amazing video!!!❤
Added advice for survival: Avoid taking unnecessary risks in the first place. Particularly when you know that someone else will have to risk their life to try to save you if that unnecessary risk bites you.
What a great, dramatic and tragic story. I don't blame any of the climbers for what happened. Anyone can make small mistakes that end up to be a big disaster - plus, they couldn't see the huge crevasse they were walking over. I'm so sorry for the loss of the wonderful rescuer Nick Hall. I'm very grateful to the rangers and all the other rescuers for saving these climber's lives. Years ago, I was very near Mt. Rainier on a month-long Outward Bound hiking and climbing adventure. I was very young and really enjoyed hiking and climbing (including technical climbing). It is a beautiful and potentially dangerous area, that's for sure. I'm so grateful for that amazing experience. Great job on this video.
Your heartless then. Also these people choose to get into the rescue business it's their choice to do it no one is forcing them to do this job. God help you if you ever need help in life. If you put yourself in a car don't expect help then if your in an accident you did it to yourself.
How cold Can we be? I suspect you will no longer want people in car accidents, train accidents. Plane accidents to be helped. I have heard that hell is actually cold as ice, like the frozen hearts of some people on-line. Love is what warms
I simply don’t understand why people deliberately put themselves in danger and then risk other people’s lives to be saved all so they can take a photo, put flag. Clout is a deadly pursuit.
The volunteers to save other people's lives get lots of praise and probably feel good about themselves, no one forces them to do it. However, I agree, only personal attempts to save climbers should be made, no government agencies should be involved.
It's a calling. Humans have been saving other humans regardless of the circumstances since the beginning. We have millions of military personnel, police and first responders, and search and rescue teams that attest to this. The Rainier climbing rangers choose to do this job knowing they're saving people climbing mountains. All of them are climbers themselves so they understand the joy in doing it and understand the risks.
They don’t do it for the photo and flag. It’s kind of a compulsion, a desire, a fire and drive. There are different motivations but doing something dangerous can really make you feel alive
Thinking the same thing, seems very selfish. Risking your own life is fine (I guess), but knowing one wrong step & u put MANY others in harms way. Certainly not very gracious. But those doing the rescuing, just WOW your amazing!
Great video man! I'm so fascinated by mountains, they are so awesome and beautiful, but so dangerous at the same time. Keep up the good work, your videos are well done and you can definitely see the research you put into them. The rescue teams on these mountains are amazing people, doing what they love and saving lives. RIP Nick.
I feel the same way. And the good people who survived because of people like Nick now they suffer through life knowing Nick died trying to save the them. I cried for everyone.
Nick Hall along with the other rescuers also had a love of the wilderness and the adventures it enabled. He volunteered to be a rescuer as a selfless act to come to the assistance to others who had suffered misfortune. He of course never envisaged he would become a victim himself but he nonetheless would have appreciated that he was placing himself at risk, but generously did not flinch from this prospect. No one has the right to accuse anyone of causing Nick’s sad death, no more than a first responder to a vehicle accident becoming a victim themselves with blame being attributed to the driver who caused the initial accident.
Thank God for the rescue team, I could not imagine what would happen to so many people if it wasn't for their bravery & courageous spirit. RIP Nick Hall.
Climbing mountains...why? Hard to feel for climbers who lose their lives doing such an unnecessary thing. Puts rescue workers at risk. Just walk the trials like everyone else.
It's hard to imagine anyone from a very different geography, like Texas, would have any sort of ability in a glaciated, mountainous environment like you find in western Washington. Nothing against Texas or the good folks from there. I spent several years with Olympic Mountain Rescue, during the summers of which, spent weekends at Muir to assist the Rangers with the weekend summer climbers surge found on Rainier. I worked as a climbing instructor, and have been all over the mountain ranges found in western Washington. I was always nervous for folks who came from out of the area on these one-off type of trips. Mountain climbing is more than technical skills you learn in a weekend workshop. It takes years of being in the environment learning to read the snow field and form a topographic image of what it looks like under the surface, listen to the creaking of the glacier, understand what the weather is doing and how that impacts the terrain. I feel bad for these people, but like some have alluded to, it seems like we encourage reckless behavior that leads to these situations. Ultimately, I had to get out of mountain rescue because of this. I recall one mission where we pulled four climbers off Rainier, a motley group from New York. I will never forget the image of four climbers standing next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, with the Chinook having just plucked them off the mountain, they standing there, like some sort of shaming, one guy in hip waiters, and the other three obviously not having a clue even how to dress for the upper reaches of the mountain. They were fortunate that day.
I summited Mt. Rainier in July. One of the hardest things I have ever done. Climbing in the dark and hearing falling rocks and ice, not knowing if you will be bowling pin.
When I climbed Half Dome, I was the ONLY guy on the cables that had a harness and clipped in. I only unclipped to go around very slow climbers. My fear is just as you say, someone falling down and knocking people off like bowling pins.
This story illustrates two things: 1) Professionals make mistakes just like anyone else. Don’t trust your life to them. 2) Doing what everyone else does doesn’t guarantee it’s the best survival technique.
Can you clarify point #2? You said it “does”… then said it “doesn’t” guarantee best survival technique. As a new climber I really want to understand which one it is 🙏
I think it is pretty selfish to call the end result a "miracle" - A man died attempting to rescue those "adventurers" from their own mistakes. He went to work that day - those people were recreating. He died for them. We shouldn't be rescuing people who make the decision to play obviously life ending games.
I'm climbing Rainier in May, and it will be my first big mountain, and at 60 yrs young, 61, when we are set to climb. It's stories like this bring the reality of what can happen.
@leslievey8453 I have thought about it for 40 years. It my big bucket list item, and my 30 year old daughter will be with on the team being guided by professionals mountain guides. And I've told her if I get any feelings of I've hit my limit I will stop. It a big dream but living is the ultimate goal. Thank you for the concern
I live in Alaska n work as an RN in what we called the Thermal Unit as we took care of Burn patients n Hyperthermia/ frost bite. Many groups would climb Mt McKinley/ now called the original name Deali. Many groups didn't have right equipment n ended up with us. Many got frostbite losing arms n legs n many Hyperthermia patients died as a result. We got teams from Japan, Sweden, Germany, Canada n of course US. Many didn't know English. We would send info that climbing they need one to know English to communicate with the people that may need to help them. Mt Denali is one of the hardest to climb as weather can change very fast. It is the tallest Mt in US at around 20,500 ft. Many bush pilots flay in sight seeing tours n they need to be excellent pilots Over the years there have been a few crashes due to weather n flying too close
Unlike Everest which is in a temperate zone, Denali is in the Arctic and its elevation gain from base to summit is the highest of any mountain in the world even though the summit only sits at 20,310 feet.
And this is why you use a Rainier specific guide service, and still its no guarantee. Of all the Cascades Iʻve climbed, this was definitely the most sobering. Knowing that there are over a hundred unrecovered bodies lying in crevasses in the section known as "the Bowling Alley" should be a wake up for anyone wanting to attempt this summit. We saw plenty of people in trouble on that mountain. Just because you can walk up past Camp Muir [in tennis shoes] doesn't mean you should.
I was hiking in Glacier NP once with a group of friends in late spring. Me and another friend split from the group to return early off the mountain. To hike out of the valley we had to cross a big freezing glacial melt stream. We got to where the bridge was supposed to be but it had broken and washed out over winter. We had to strip and wade across the stream, it was horrible but we made it. Further down the valley, we watched our friends, who had proceeded to get drunk, hike towards the bridge. But they missed it, and wound up drunkenly wandering over a thin snow bridge with the stream raging under them as they obliviously wandered. They made it across, but we were terrified the entire time someone would fall through and drown. It was so scary.
A friend of mine asked me to join him and his fellow fire fighters to climb Mt. Raineer. I declined having seen and climbed several volcanoes and rock peaks. I has seen first hand the roll of the dice in climbing same. I believe it was the following year when climbed Raineer with his two daughters, aged 10 or 12. On the way down they stopped to rest, Ingraham flats I believe. He broke through the snow into a wedge crevasse. The rope was cut between the girls and he. It was in that place that he froze to death.....He had a large funeral, he was very well known and liked......
it must feel terrible for them to have an accident and then having someone on the rescue team dying while trying to help. I dont even like to tell my parents if I'm sick (dad is a doctor) because I fear they would try to visit me and maybe suffer an accident or something like that
I will never understand the risks people take putting their lives & other's lives in danger. Life means more than exhilaration that may come from lifetime experiences.
I've no doubt these shallow people will continue to behave stupidly and expect other people to risk their lives to save them if their stupidity gets them in serious danger.
@@thestruggler3338 How sad....that some people cannot enjoy life unless they are placing themselves in danger. There must be a psychological term for that aberrant mental condition.
ironically its the exact opposite of sad, its a resolution of happiness you see. You may think your happy behind that office desk or walking down the street meters from oncoming traffic but until you climb that mountain you sill simply have not the cloudiest idea on the psychological faculties of the average mountain climber. @@Baskerville22
The first time I climbed Rainier, it kicked my ass. Lot of simple ways you can do yourself in easily, but like this video you can take a whole bunch of people with you. Nightmare fuel.
My friend and I summited Mt Rainier on the same route in 09/09/'99. We are vertical Ice Climbers, so we are very good at anchoring and saying "what happens if we fall here"and "how do we protect ourselves here". We are from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada . . . so "sea level". They were helicoptering a body of a Doctor who had fallen into pillow snow a few months earlier. The snow had melted by September, and revealed the remains. I do not know why I am revealing such details. This documentary affected me deeply and made me weep. The incredible detail of technical aspects helped me relate understand it much more. Very sad and cathartic.
This is the same route I did. The slog up emmon's glacier in the darkness is exhausting. We went up after a major snow season so the crevasses were well bridged. Having soft. sloppy snow isn't much better than icy, hard snow. We were slipping and sliding in the slop on the way down.
