Mountains Don't Care, But We Do

An Early History of Mountain Rescue in the Pacific Northwest and the Founding of the Mountain Rescue Association

  • 208 pages
  • Mountaineers Books
  • 978-0-615-29324-0
  • Jun 18, 2009

Paperback / softback
$19.95
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Description

* Tales of legendary rescues in the Pacific Northwest
* The history of the founding of the Mountain Rescue Association
* Sketches of key participants in the Pacific Northwest mountain rescue community
* Superb mountain drawings by the author illustrate rescue locations

Dee Molenaar, author of the definitive climbing history, The Challenge of Rainier, has written fascinating accounts of the legendary mountain rescues and recoveries in the Pacific Northwest. In telling these tales of triumph and tragedy, he has also traced the formation and evolution of the mountain rescue groups that carried out these missions.

Starting first with an overview of the physical characteristics of the mountaineering environment, Molenaar writes eloquently about the specific physical characteristics of Mount Rainier and Mount Hood, where many rescues and recoveries have taken place over the years.

Then the tales of rescues begin: a moment of inattention that leads to a fall; six climbers falling into a crevasse after an out of control slide; a young climber lost on a solo winter ascent of Rainier; a Marine aircraft crash. And in all cases, Molenaar details how volunteers risk everything to carry out rescues.

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Details
  • 208 pages
  • Mountaineers Books
  • 978-0-615-29324-0
  • Jun 18, 2009
Reviews
  • Mountains Don't Care, But We Do, by Dee Molenaar is a must read for those who enjoy high adventure and want to know the history of the Mountain Rescue Association.
    — Jim Whittaker, first American to summit Everest
  • The old master has done it again, pulling from personal experience and scholarly research, a vital and vibrant history of mountain rescue in the Pacific Northwest to celebrate the Mountain Rescue Association's 50 anniversary. Dee is man of many talents-mountaineer, maker-of-maps, artist, writer and yes, rescuer. For me, a high point in this history was Dee's part on Mt. McKinley in the rescue of the Whittaker twins, John Day and Pete Schoening in 1960- a fitting sequel to that moment high on K2 in 1953 when Pete's ice axe belay saved the lives of Dee and four other falling teammates.
    — Tom Hornbein, author of Everest: The West Ridge

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