Category Archives: Nature

Guest opinion piece: Meltdown of Industrial Civilization

Posted on January 26, 2012 by brucesmith49

 by George Ochsenfeld, special to the Mountain News Our industrial civilization is melting down, though we try hard to deny it.  The global financial system teeters toward collapse, enraged citizens are rising up against their governments, and climate change is … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Politics, Self Reliance | 3 Comments

Searchers seize weather break and swarm Mount Rainier; but, no sign of missing hikers

Posted on January 24, 2012 by brucesmith49

  By Bruce A. Smith  Sunny skies on Monday allowed rescuers to mount a massive search for four overdue hikers, combing the southern slopes of Mount Rainier.

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | 1 Comment

Search teams battle snows 10-15 feet deep and drifts to 50-feet to find overdue climbers on Mount Rainier

Posted on January 22, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  Displaying a heroic devotion to duty under extraordinary winter conditions, search teams headed up the slopes above Paradise today, hoping to find a trace of two groups of overdue hikers, park spokesperson Patti Wold announced Sunday evening.

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | 3 Comments

The Great Storm of 2012 – big, beautiful, and a huge kick in the butt

Posted on January 22, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  While we watched the snow, sleet, freezing rain, and a mist that seemed to freeze once it landed on a twig or branch – we listened to the torture in the forests – the cracking and … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Events, Graham News, Nature, Self Reliance, Weather | 7 Comments

Update on overdue hikers at Mount Rainier; concerns mount as conditions remain severe

Posted on January 21, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith Update:  7 pm, Saturday, January 21, 2012  Concerns are increasing for the safety of two parties of overdue climbers on Mount Rainier.  On Saturday, January 21, park spokesperson Patti Wold released the following information:

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | 2 Comments

Search teams gear up for another round of rescues on Mount Rainier

Posted on January 18, 2012 by brucesmith49

  By Bruce A. Smith  As the snow tapers off in our low-land locales, search and rescue teams are preparing for another series of operations at Paradise.

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | 2 Comments

More trouble on the Mountain

Posted on January 17, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith Two pairs of climbers are overdue from their scheduled hikes on the upper slopes of Mount Rainier above Paradise, park officials announced Tuesday afternoon – less that 24 hours after they joyfully declared that rescued snowshoer … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | 1 Comment

Rescued Snowshoer Update – Family issues a statement of appreciation; Kim out of woods

Posted on January 16, 2012 by brucesmith49

Dateline Paradise: Malcolm An, the son of rescued snowshoer, Yong Chun Kim, issued a statement of thanks late Monday in recognition of the hundreds of volunteers and national park staff who worked tirelessly for the past three days to save his … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | 2 Comments

Found! – Missing snowshoer is “alive and conscious” on Mount Rainier

Posted on January 16, 2012 by brucesmith49

 by Bruce A. Smith  Yong Chun Kim, the snowshoer missing for three days on Mount Rainier, has been found alive by search and rescue teams, park spokesperson Lee Taylor joyfully announced Monday afternoon at 2:15 pm.

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | 6 Comments

Search for missing snowshoer enters third day

Posted on January 16, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith The search for Yong Chun Kim, 66,  a snowshoer missing since Saturday afternoon, continues into its third day on Mount Rainier, park spokesperson Lee Taylor announced today.  More than 90 people from a variety of mountain … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | Leave a comment