Badly injured climber hoisted by chopper after fall near Alpental

SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. — A rock climber had to be hoisted into a King County helicopter after he suffered life-threatening injuries from a fall down a rocky cliff near Alpental's Source Lake.

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The climber, who was described by rescuers as experienced, slipped off a rock face and tumbled down into a snowfield, where he hit a tree.

Search and Rescue volunteers told KIRO 7 they had eight teams hike into the remote, rugged area, but King County's Guardian Two helicopter was the only hope to get a medic to the injured climber and get him out.

"When anybody falls from a cliff into or around a cliff area, it makes it very, very hard for us," said Alan Labissoniere of the King County Search and Rescue team. "If we have to pack him out by hand, it's going to take us all night to get him out."

Guardian Two used a GPS track from a 20-second 911 call made from the scene, which has marginal cellular service, according to rescuers.

Rescuers pointed out that King County budget cuts put Guardian Two on the chopping block, along with the entire King County Marine Rescue team. The helicopter is only funded for six more months, unless money is reallocated to fund it.

Rescuers say this time next year, they may be forced to make rescues like this completely on foot.

Labissoniere said Guardian Two is not optional if saving lives in remote areas is a priority.

"It's something we must have," he said. "We save a lot of lives out there with that equipment."

A KIRO 7 crew is on the way to the scene for a report at 11 p.m.

Cox Media Group