Chelan County Mountain Rescue

10/08/2026

Cold Front This Weekend: Aasgard Pass & the Enchantments

After weeks of warm fall weather, the high country turns cold fast starting Friday. Near Aasgard Pass, daytime highs drop from 51° Thursday to 28° Saturday, with lows in the mid-20s through Sunday. Friday brings snow showers and wind gusts in the mid-30s.

Wet rock that freezes overnight means ice, especially on Aasgard. If you're heading out for larches or a climb, bring traction, a waterproof shell, warm layers, and a headlamp. Set a turnaround time, and leave your plan with someone at home.

We'll always respond, but weather slows everything down. Enjoy the larches and come home safe.

Forecast from NWS as of Oct 7. Check for updates before you go.

09/24/2026

Whoohoo, another weekend! But there's another early-season storm heading for the PNW. We don't expect it to bring as much snow as the last one, but it will still drop snow in the higher mountains of Washington, including the Enchantments. We know it's the start of "Larch March" season, so please be safe and prepared for poor weather Friday and possibly Saturday. Keep in mind that bad weather can seriously delay a rescue, and in some conditions we may not be able to reach you right away. We will always do our best to get to you.

09/20/2026

We couldn’t have said it much better.

“All rescues are real.”

Happy weekend!

09/17/2026

Glad that our team was able to assist in bringing the survivor to safety. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this heartbreaking loss, and thank you to our partners at Yakima DUSTOFF and the Chelan County Sheriff's Office for their coordinated response.

On 9/13/2026, at approximately 5:26 p.m., RiverCom dispatch received a text-to-911 report from a male who reported that he and his wife were stranded in the “core zone” of the Enchantments, his wife was unable to move, and he was unable to carry her out.

The area the couple was at is approximately 7,000 to 8,000 feet in elevation, with either trailhead approximately 8 to 10 miles away. Storms had persisted throughout the day, producing significant snowfall in the area. The male reported that both individuals' clothing were soaked and that they did not have overnight gear.

At approximately 5:49 p.m., the male reported that his wife was under an emergency blanket and that they were in approximately 1 to 2 feet of snow. Because of the remote location and deteriorating weather conditions, deputies determined the best option for a rescue would be the use of a helicopter if the weather cleared.
However, the weather was preventing helicopter access to the area. At that point, the only other option was to get a ground team in as quickly as possible to try to warm her up. A ground rescue team was requested from Chelan County Mountain Rescue. They provided the quickest ground response possible.

At approximately 6:51 p.m., Sheriff’s Office personnel requested a hoist-capable helicopter if weather conditions improved. An Army helicopter launched from Yakima at approximately 8:00 p.m. but was unable to reach the couple because of the weather.

Throughout the evening, the male continued providing updates to RiverCom regarding his wife's deteriorating condition and the possibility that it was becoming fatal. Sheriff’s Office personnel continued requesting the Army attempt an aerial response in the event his assessment was inaccurate or his own condition became a medical emergency.

The Army helicopter made another attempt to reach the area at approximately 10:50 p.m., but again was unable to do so because of weather conditions.

At approximately 3:30 a.m., Chelan County Mountain Rescue personnel reached the couple. Rescuers reported the female was deceased and the male was suffering from severe hypothermia. They were able to warm him inside a tent.

On the morning of the 14th, the Army helicopter was able to reach the area and transport the male and two CCMR rescuers. They arrived at the Leavenworth fish hatchery at approximately 8:39 a.m. The male was transported by ambulance to Cascade Medical Center for medical treatment.

At approximately 9:47 a.m., an additional recovery flight was dispatched. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office helicopter transported two deputies from the fish hatchery to assist with the recovery operation. The deceased woman was recovered and turned over to the Chelan County Coroner’s Office. She was positively identified as 45-year-old Sybil Claborn from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Additional information regarding Claborn’s cause and manner of death is still under investigation by the Chelan County Coroner’s Office.

08/22/2026

Mission Report: On Wednesday 8/19, we received a callout to assist in a multi-agency search for an overdue hiker in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness / Enchantment zone. A well-coordinated search resulted in success. We are very grateful for the seamless teamwork from our partner agencies, the incredible support from the community, and so thankful this hiker was brought home safely.

08/20/2026

Chad has been found. Thanks to everyone who responded!

Chelan County sheriff’s Office is requesting information regarding an overdue hiker.

Chad T Pietrok, 27 years old.

Chad was last seen at the Ingalls Creek Trail Head on 8/11/26. His planned route was Ingalls Creek, Esmeralda Basin, Vann Epps, Jack Creek and Eight Mile Trails. He was wearing either a yellow or orange outer layer and possibly a blue backpack along with carrying a yellow or grey tent. If you were in the area and may have seen Chad, email [email protected]

08/13/2026

Mission Report: Yesterday afternoon (8/12), CCMR was called out alongside CCVSAR to assist an injured hiker near Little Eightmile Lake. After reviewing coordinates and terrain details, it was determined a helivac wasn't an option—making a ground wheel-out the best plan of action.

CCVSAR and CCMR teams hiked about 3 miles up the Eightmile trail, located the hiking party, and quickly got to work. Teams divided responsibilities to stabilize the patient’s injury and package them safely into the litter.

A successful litter-out is true teamwork in action: it takes 6–8 people surrounding the litter, in constant communication to navigate trail hazards while keeping the patient as comfortable as possible. On the way down, we were met by two Cascade Medical Leavenworth EMTs who stepped in to provide additional care.

After a few hours of steady work, the patient was safely brought down to the trailhead and transferred to Cascade Medical for transport. Grateful for the seamless coordination between CCSO, CCVSAR, Cascade Medical, and our dedicated CCMR volunteers!

08/05/2026

A heads up to our community: As wildfire smoke increases, we may not always be able to respond to a rescue. Just like any other severe weather event, wildfire smoke can present serious harm to the health of our rescuers and limit our abilities. Smoke can also move in and out quickly — it might look clear where you are, but a valley or drainage we have to hike through to reach you could be socked in and hazardous. We'll make a judgment call for every situation, but please know that we may delay our response for safer air, and helicopter support could be limited or unavailable. We want to be there for you, but we will always put the health and safety of our crew first. Please be safe out there!

Picture is current smoke conditions as of 0900 August 5th.

07/11/2026

Some team members got out yesterday on Colchuck Balance Rock and saw a large rockslide on Colchuck Peak. As always, a good reminder that the mountains are always changing. Luckily, no one was under the slide when it took place. Be safe out there, and if you need us, as always, we will be there for you!

07/05/2026

Mission report:

Yesterday afternoon (7/3) we received a callout for an injured climber near the Long John Tower on Mt. Stuart's West Ridge route.

Yakima DUSTOFF inserted two CCMR teams of two at 6,800’, who then climbed up to the climbers' coordinates at 8,400’. The scene presented an immediate challenge: a massive, steep snowfield separated the two climbers, with the injured climber sitting 100 feet lower on the far side.

Our responders quickly set up a belay for a short traverse to secure the nearby uninjured climber, then traversed across the steep snowfield—placing cams and snow anchors for protection—to reach the injured climber. Though bruised and battered, the injured climber was able to move under their own power, allowing a smooth ascent and traverse back to safety.

Due to the darkness, and the exhaustion of the climbers, the team made the call to bivy on the mountain at 8400'. This worked well because the climbers had planned to stay overnight anyway and were prepared for a bivy. After a cold night, the teams guided the climbers through eight long rappels back down to the insertion point where both the climbers and the four CCMR responders were hoisted out.

An incredible job by everyone involved, and a huge shoutout to Yakima Dustoff for providing the critical insertion and extraction hoists that saved everyone many hours of hiking.