On Thursday morning we received a call about a Pyreness mix named Yuki who was stuck on a cliff ledge off the Pacific Northwest Trail in Whatcom County. WASART responded in partnership with our friends at Summit to Sound Search and Rescue (STS).
We arrived on scene and met with the owner and STS responders. As only Yuki’s approximate location was known, our first step was to search the area from the ground below to pinpoint her exact location for the rigging rescue. Yuki’s owner had an idea of the general area she was at and she could be heard barking. After searching, we were able to see her on a small ledge 250 feet below the trail. There was a vertical drop of 50 feet off smooth rock on either side of her and no way for her to safely travel out on her own.
We marked a point on the trail above from which we thought we could reach her, packed up our gear, and started the hike up. An STS member and the owner remained at the base of the cliff to keep a visual on her from the ground. Another team remained at the parking lot trailhead to run operation support.
When we reached the area directly above Yuki, we used rope and prusiks to safely travel down 150 feet of steep and bushy terrain. From here, we assessed and devised a plan for her rescue. The situation required technical rigging to lower an attendant the additional 100 vertical feet to her position.
We set up a twin tension rope system. The attendant was lowered down the steep slope to Yuki. We did not have a direct visual on Yuki due to the terrain so the ground team directed the attendant to her location.
When the attendant reached Yuki, she appeared healthy, uninjured, and her tail was wagging. She was on a small ledge about 4 feet long, a mound of mud and dirt held against the rock face by a clump of small twigs growing from a crack in the rock. Yuki was secured into a rescue harness, muzzled, and attached to the rope system for the trip down. While securing her, the weather changed to light snow and hail adding a challenging component. Once ready, they were lowered together 50 feet to the cliff base where Yuki was happily reunited with her owner. After being leashed, she headed back to the trailhead with a wagging tail.
The rigging team, who was stationed on the side of the slope, packed up the ropes and gear and climbed back up the 150 feet to the trail. They then hiked down to the trailhead.
Once all teams were at the trailhead parking lot, we debriefed, packed up, and headed home.
We are so glad to have been able to help Yuki get back safely to her owner.
A huge thanks to our partners at Summit to Sound Search and Rescue for their professionalism and willingness to always help. Great team efforts make for great outcomes.
WASART is an all-volunteer organization and we are appreciative of all donations to help support rescues like this. We are available at no cost for animals when they need help. For more information about us or to make a donation, please visit www.wasart.org
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