Local Boy Scout Troop Assists with Search and Rescue near Mount Rainier

Troop 853 members at a summer work party.  Photo by Kurt Herzog.

By Kurt Herzog

Shoreline Boy Scout Troop 853 recently assisted Yakima County officials with the search and rescue of a 23-year-old disabled man.

After a day of whitewater rafting, the troop was staying overnight Saturday, September 17, 2011 at Boy Scout Camp Fife by Chinook Pass, between Mt. Rainier and Yakima. A young man with Down Syndrome was staying with another group at the camp when he wandered off and became lost.

Troop 853 volunteered to join the effort coordinated by Yakima County Search and Rescue conducting a grid search through several parts of the camp, which is surrounded by forests, mountains and rivers.

The young man was eventually found alive, but was cold and hungry after spending the night under a log in 40 degrees and rain.

Search and rescue officials provided a guided tour through their new mobile command center and discussed search and rescue techniques.

Troop 853 is a boy scout troop that has operated in Shoreline for 44 years. It meets at 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays at Syre Elementary School. It is chartered by Shoreline Rotary. For more info go to the Troop 853 website.

Here's a link to the story in the Yakima Herald.