Two men stranded on Mount Rainier
Ice cave provides overnight shelter
LONGMIRE, Wash. – Rescue crews weren’t able to reach two stranded snowboarders on Mount Rainier, but made visual contact.
Mount Rainier National Park spokesman Kevin Bacher said the men, ages 20 and 21, called Sunday afternoon to report they had become lost in the storm while descending from Camp Muir.
He said they had winter gear, smart phones and a compass, but no overnight gear.
Bacher identified them as Derek Tyndall and Thomas Dale.
He says the men are cold but not hurt.
They took shelter overnight by digging a snow cave.
More than two dozen people are trying to reach the men, who are believed to be at about 7,500-foot elevation near Paradise.
At about 3 p.m. Monday, rescue crews made visual contact from about half a mile.
But night fell and the weather worsened, forcing them off the mountain.
Bacher said crews will renew efforts at first light.