The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple calls for help around Mount St. Helens and the Columbia River Gorge over the weekend and through Tuesday. An estimated 600 permits were issued in those areas for Mother’s Day weekend.
A Sandy, Ore., man was hurt in a snowmobile crash near Mount St. Helens on Sunday, the sheriff’s office said.
A deputy, the Volcano Rescue Team and North Country EMS were called and learned Randal Bolin had crashed, injured his leg and may have other injuries.
Members of his group met with search and rescue personnel, and directed them to the crash site near Mount St. Helens.
A private helicopter airlifted Bolin to a landing zone near Yacolt for transport to a hospital. His condition was unavailable Tuesday.
On Sunday, another pair of hikers were lost near the Dog Mountain Trail after heading off the trail onto a logging road.
The sheriff’s office said emergency dispatchers advised them to try retracing their route. They tried, but could not find the trail. The sheriff’s office said a deputy contacted them and sent them map information. The pair were able to navigate back to the parking lot.
Deputies also got a call Sunday about an injured mountain biker near Lower Falls Campground, but the rider arranged a ride out and treatment by the time a deputy arrived.
Several calls were for overdue hikers, and were ultimately resolved after hikers, other contacts and officials were able to call each other.
On Tuesday morning, however, sheriff’s office staff and the Volcano Rescue Team were dispatched to Mount St. Helens for a missing hiking party.
Searchers started looking, and an aircraft was brought in to help, when other hikers said they hadn’t seen the group. The sheriff’s office said the Volcano Rescue Team found the group by midafternoon, in good condition, and walked them off the mountain.
