Mountaineers Forums

I'm hoping a Mountaineer's party would have handled this a little better.

http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php?cat=C_News&content=Sar+on+wedge+1532

The rescue crew were later shocked to discover a lone person, the injured climber, lying on the glacier at a higher elevation. The rescue crew was able to access, stabilize and transport the injured hiker inside the helicopter.

The rest of his climbing party had to be woken from a “deep sleep” at Wedgemont Hut, according to Sills. Whistler SAR was surprised that the injured person would be left alone after a seemingly urgent request for help.

According to an e-mail from Sills, the threesome felt there was no point in them all being cold when a helicopter would pick them up in the morning.

Good thing a chopper was due in the morning - otherwise they might have just pushed on out to the trailhead.  No point in sticking around if he's too heavy to carry...

I wonder if someone had the cajones to say "okay, we're going to leave you now and go sleep in the hut" or if they just snuck away while he was unconscious?