MOUNT OLYMPUS — An injured climber was rescued from Mount Olympus on Wednesday, Navy officials said.
The man had fallen down a 300-foot chute at an elevation of about 6,000 feet, Navy spokesman Mike Welding said Thursday.
He was rescued from the slopes of the 7,980-foot mountain by a Search and Rescue helicopter crew from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Welding could not identify the injured climber, who called for help on his cell phone Tuesday.
The man had severe hypothermia, a dislocated shoulder and a broken tibia when he was rescued, Welding said.
The climber was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The Wednesday morning rescue was the third attempt to locate the climber, Welding said.
Two earlier attempts on Tuesday were hampered by inclement weather.
Lt. Evan Jester, co-pilot, said conditions made the first attempts challenging.
“The weather and low clouds made this one of the toughest missions I’ve ever flown,” Jester said.
Olympic Mountain Rescue and the National Park Service also assisted with the rescue efforts, Navy officials said.
An Olympic National Park spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment today.
The rescue was one of 34 this year for Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, which also has conducted seven searches and 14 medical evacuation missions in 2017.
The Search and Rescue unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
