Unexpected storm, broken leg strand climbers on Mount Shuksan, leading to harrowing rescue — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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  Navy helicopter rescue team airlifted climber Justin Dempster from Mount Shuksan“A Navy pilot lowered a MH-60s Knighthawk in poor conditions to help airlift Justin Dempster to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham after the climber suffered a broken leg from a fall on Mount Shuksan.”
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  Justin Dempster was airlifted from Mount Shuksan on July 26No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  Justin Dempster suffered a broken leg from a fall during a descent“A Navy pilot lowered a MH-60s Knighthawk in poor conditions to help airlift Justin Dempster to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham after the climber suffered a broken leg from a fall on Mount Shuksan.”
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  Justin Dempster, 36, and his climbing partner had summited the 9,131-foot peak“Dempster, 36, and a friend had summited the rocky peak the previous day without much trouble.”
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  Justin Dempster and his climbing partner summited the 9,131-foot peak on July 25No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  While descending via rappels, a rock cut through his climbing rope's outer sheath“a knife-like rock cut through the outer sheath of Dempster’s climbing rope.”
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  While descending via rappels, a rock cut through his climbing rope's outer sheath, leaving only three strands“a knife-like rock cut through the outer sheath of Dempster’s climbing rope. He was left with three strands that he knotted off as a makeshift repair.”
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  They reached camp but faced an overnight storm that soaked their gear“The men made it to camp after the summit climb, but were still high on the 9,131-foot peak in North Cascades National Park when an overnight storm dashed their hopes of an easy descent on that Sunday. With wind howling, Dempster woke up at 4 a.m. to find their clothes and gear soaked.”
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  Justin Dempster awoke at 4 a.m. on July 26 to find his gear soaked and the weather worsening“Dempster woke up at 4 a.m. to find their clothes and gear soaked.”
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  A Navy MH-60s Knighthawk helicopter lowered a pilot to airlift him to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical CenterNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The rescue occurred after a storm turned forecasted drizzle into cold, wet conditions on the glaciated massif“A forecasted drizzle on July 26 had turned into a cold, wet morning on the glaciated massif that on cloudless days dazzles Artist Point visitors.”
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  The tree farm at Galbraith Mountain will close to all users on August 24-25“The tree farm will be closed to all users on Aug. 24–25 so that the property owner can perform roadside herbicide application.”
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  The closure affects mountain bikers and hikers using the propertyNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.