Forum Index > Trail Talk > Karen Sykes lost on Mt.Rainier?
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ranger rock
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ranger rock
One of the boys
PostSat Jun 21, 2014 12:37 pm 
This is just awful. I only found out about it when I got home from hiking last night. My husband who has never heard of her, saw the news stories of an experienced female hiker who was lost and that made him worry about me while I was gone on my solo dayhike yesterday. My thoughts and prayers are with Karen and her family and friends.

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Boywonder
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 1:54 pm 
I was up on Rainier doing some day hiking this morning and monitoring the ongoing search and rescue efforts on my HAM radio for about 6 hours. They have at least 4 sets of teams and two dog teams from what I can tell. They are doing a meticulous grid search. The teams check in every half hour for updates. A helicopter is also being used in the search today. We are all thinking of you Karen, many of us have not met you but we feel like we know you through your writing and you share the same passion for hiking that many of us do.

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grasshopper
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 2:30 pm 
I really hope she's not injured. Broken leg, fell and knocked unconcious, motor skills diminishing and unable to signal. If she was ambulatory she could have crawled to 123 or the White River WIC by now. She was not lost. Tamanos Mt one one side, Govenor's Ridge on the other. Subalpine terraine, snow, no berries to eat. Nothing to eat. Maybe make a tea with the new growth of a spruce tree? Fire. Build a fire. Build a bonfire. That'll get a helicopter's attention. My mind is racing.

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Kascadia
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 2:53 pm 
Keep on keeping on, Karen. Come home soon.

It is as though I had read a divine text, written into the world itself, not with letters but rather with essential objects, saying: Man, stretch thy reason hither, so thou mayest comprehend these things. Johannes Kepler
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bobk3
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 3:16 pm 
Can they use volunteers or will we get in the way?

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Ringangleclaw
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 3:28 pm 
Likely would be disallowed by the NPS or the Sheriff, who ever is coordinating the search.

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bobk3
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 3:37 pm 
We hate to just sit here hoping and praying when we are capable of covering that ground, but with one of the searchers already injured, they don't want to be rescuing any more searchers.

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Randito
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Randito
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 3:42 pm 
bobk3 wrote:
Can they use volunteers or will we get in the way?
My experience with NPS is that their 1st concern is ensuring that there are "no new patients" -- which I think is a sensible policy. Typically the preference is for people that are already a member of some sort of search and rescue organization that has a training program for it's volunteers. But you never know -- Info about the search on the park's website -- including a contact phone number where you could call and offer to help. http://www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/owyhighsar.htm Contact: Patti Wold, 360-569-6701

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Kjerringa med staven
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 3:54 pm 
The MNRP site is dated to yesterday. I read an article online that quotes the ranger as saying she still had not been located as of noon today.

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Kjerringa med staven
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 4:28 pm 
Just called the SR number, (4:20). A recording says the search has been suspended (?!). Rainier's webcams show plenty of clear skies & sun around the Mtn, so weather is probably not a factor.

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Alpine Pedestrian
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 4:29 pm 
Besides, if they asked for volunteers, they'd only get about 5,000. Karen was the trip leader on the first Mountaineer trip I did, and we were on several other Mountie trips over the years. She is such a completely likable and knowledgeable person. My heart goes out to her.

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Buttercup
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 4:49 pm 
Not many details... frown.gif "The search for well-known, 70-year-old outdoors writer Karen Sykes, who hasn't been seen since she separated from her hiking partner on Wednesday, was suspended at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Details on why the search was suspended are unclear. Officials say they will update the public as more information is available." http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Search-ongoing-for-outdoors-writer-on-Mt-Rainier-264098091.html

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doublemom
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 5:05 pm 
Karen's daughter Annette just posted on Karen's FB page that she was found dead... I feel sick and so very very sad right now. I don't know any more details than that.... frown.gif

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Schroder
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 5:06 pm 
Very sad news today. bawl.gif

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H. Hound
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PostSat Jun 21, 2014 5:16 pm 
Wasn't what I wanted to hear frown.gif

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