PORT ANGELES — Mountaineers from throughout the nation are pouring into Port Angeles this week for the annual spring conference of the Mountain Rescue Association.
About 220 people are coming into town for the conference, scheduled Thursday through Sunday, said John Myers, chairman of Olympic Mountain Rescue, which is hosting the conference this year.
It’s the first time it will be held in Port Angeles and the first time in Washington state since 2001, Myers said.
Mountain rescuers from around North America will participate in classroom and field courses covering topics such as rigging, aviation, tracking, avalanche rescue, navigation and search techniques.
Activities are private. Most events are classes at the Red Lion Hotel, but some will be visible to the public at Salt Creek Recreation Center, the Port Angeles waterfront and at Hurricane Ridge.
On Friday, four workshops on rescues using ropes will be conducted at the Salt Creek Recreation Area, especially at the World War II bunkers, Myers said.
Demonstrations
Two helicopter demonstrations are planned during the afternoon, in which activities are planned from about 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
One will be by the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the other by the Snohomish County helicopter rescue team.
That night, beginning at about 5 p.m., the group plans a private barbecue at The Gateway pavilion at Lincoln and First streets.
That event is not open to the public, but a Coast Guard helicopter demonstration on the waterfront that night is. The demonstration will be at about 6:30 p.m.
“It’s open to the public if they want to come down and watch,” Myers said.
Hurricane Ridge
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, workshops are planned at Hurricane Ridge.
Participants will use the “patch of snow” still available there for team tracking practice and other activities.
Local residents will speak at the conference, according to Myers.
Lee Taylor, Olympic National Park deputy superintendent, will speak at the opening ceremonies Friday morning, he said.
Saturday’s annual banquet will feature Port Townsend resident Jim Whittaker, the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest, as keynote speaker.
Olympic Mountain Rescue, based in Bremerton, has members in Kitsap, Mason, Clallam and Jefferson counties.
The 38 people are all climbers, all accredited by the national nonprofit Mountain Rescue Association, “all unpaid professionals,” Myers said.
They work with local, regional and state agencies to help with rescues in the Olympics and the Cascades.
Their latest rescue on the North Olympic Peninsula was of a Lynnwood man who went over Sol Duc Falls on May 20.
The national Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) works with 90 government-authorized units from around the United States.
The original members of Olympic Mountain Rescue were part of the founding group of what is now the MRA.
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Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
