Home News 

Story

Climber Rescued After 5 Days In Cave

Posted: 5:25 pm PDT July 9, 2009Updated: 12:13 pm PDT July 10, 2009

After a man was stranded for five days and four nights in a cave, a helicopter airlifted him off Mount Terror in Whatcom County on Thursday.

Jason Schilling wasn't hurt, but couldn't be rescued any sooner due to weather.

He had been on day four of a six-day hike with three other climbers, including Steph Abegg and Steve Trent, when Trent lost his footing and fell 70 feet. He broke a leg and suffered a head injury Sunday.

WATCH IT: Stranded Climber Describes Harrowing Ordeal

"Apparently he stood on a block that was loose and the block gave way," Schilling said.

Schilling had the most first aid experience and stayed with Trent while Abegg and another climber hiked up the mountain to reach a point where they could call for help with a cell phone. By Sunday night, a helicopter arrived to carry Trent off Mount Terror.

UNCUT: Stuck Climber Talks About Days On Mount Terror

"I assumed that he was going to come back for me or that they come back in the morning," Schilling said.

The helicopter was unable to return due to weather, but rescuers left Schilling with a big backpack with food, water, a sleeping bag and a radio.

"Turned on the radio and the ranger was like, 'Weather's turned bad tomorrow. We'll try to rescue you in the morning, but you could be up there for three days.' So my heart sank, it was like, 'you got to be kidding me,'" Schilling said.

Schilling spent the night anchored to the ledge. Through the radio, his climbing partners were able to guide him to a cave the next day.

"By the time I got set up in there, the weather just unleashed," Schilling said. "It was hard rain, followed by snow, followed by really cold."

"I just lay down because it was real tight. It wasn't a real spacious cave," Schilling said.

He said he used everything in his emergency backpack to stay warm and alive.

"Then they're saying Thursday, maybe we can get you. I was like, 'oh my God, I've got to spend a week in the cave.' I was starting to go crazy. I was starting to see textures in the wall. I was starting to see animals and cartoons and stuff," Schilling said.

He thought about his girlfriend, food, beer, coffee and level ground until a chopper finally lifted him off Mount Terror Thursday afternoon.

"Everything fell into place," he said.

He spent four nights and five days in the cave.

His climbing partner, Trent, suffered a broken leg and will be OK.

Abegg posted a blog about the incident here .

More Headlines

Fun Slideshows

Heidi Klum and her post-baby body led the parade at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, which returned to New York with some fresh faces after four years on the road. View Images ››


Images In The News

A man breaks into an excavator in the middle of the night and goes on a destructive rampage. View Images ››


SeattleInsider

From ex-lovers taking revenge, to disastrous photoshop mistakes, click to be impressed, amazed and maybe even horrified all at the same time. Full Story ››