Climber Lost On Mount Rainier

Wed., May 19, 1999

From Staff

Poor weather conditions Tuesday hampered the efforts of searchers looking for a climber who got lost in the Muir snowfield while descending Mount Rainier.

John Repka, 51, of Issaquah, was coming down the mountain Sunday when he became separated from his group, Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Maria Gillett said.

On Tuesday, 33 searchers and one helicopter swept the area between the snowfield at 8,500 feet and Paradise Glacier at 6,400 feet. Going was difficult because of low temperatures, wind, precipitation and poor visibility, Gillett said.

Repka was last seen around the 8,000-foot level in low visibility. The last time he spoke to the rest of the group on his radio, he told them he was lost, she said.

Repka is an experienced climber who has been to the top of Mount Rainier before. He was carrying a backpack and should have enough equipment to survive, she said.

According to Gillett, search teams, tracking dogs and a helicopter will be sent out again today, weather permitting.

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