From the newsroom:

I spend as much time as possible bathing in the glory of our rugged peaks, towering conifer forests, and inviting lakes and rivers like many other Hamsters.

The word is out about the awe-inspiring beauty of the Upper Left Corner, if the number of out-of-state visitors on North Cascades trails this fall is an indication. More people lead to more emergency calls when something goes wrong in an unforgiving terrain. 

As the summer hiking season fades into wintry activities like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more, the backcountry risk level increases. 

Thankfully, Whatcom County has a dedicated and experienced group of search and rescue volunteers ready to help on a moment's notice. The county's search and rescue network, in coordination with the Sheriff's Department and emergency management officials, is extensive. 

And necessary. 

Our local U.S. Forest Service rangers do not have the resources to handle every backcountry emergency due to budget cuts and the ongoing government shutdown. 

All of us are relying on the goodwill of the volunteers, including Bellingham Mountain Rescue, one of six units attached to the county program. The BMR volunteers race to incident sites to perform upper-elevation rescues with ropes and other climbing equipment, often in challenging weather conditions. 

They have worked in the background for seven decades to keep us safe. Their service is free and without judgment and deserves the community's gratitude. 

Take time with our Sunday Read to get to know the neighbors who drop everything to answer the call. 

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Sunday read

BMR vice president Harrison Brickman (middle) guides a litter with a victim through an icy stretch on the Heliotrope Ridge trail in May. The volunteer rescue crew were called back to the trail later to retrieve another victim. (Photo courtesy by: Bellingham Mountain Rescue)

Mountain rescue unit, after 70 years, remains integral part of WA recreation scene

Varya Efimova felt a twinge of concern as she tumbled down a snowy cliff on a solo outing in the North Cascades. The Lynnwood woman ended up stranded on a ledge above Twin Lakes until Bellingham Mountain Rescue reached her. "I know they're volunteers, but there's literally no one I would rather have with me," Efimova said. BMR has worked behind the scenes of emergency response in Northwest Washington's outdoor recreation arena for 70 years.  The group is one of six units under the Whatcom Search and Rescue Council, which standardizes emergency response procedures for about 200 volunteers.

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Opinion

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