Industry News
The body of 30-year-old Heavenly ski patroller, Dmitri Pajitnov, was extracted from the bottom of a waterfall in Mount Rainier National Park, WA on Saturday only 30 meters from where he disappeared, according to Mount Rainier National Park.
Dmitri’s body was located in early August, but personnel were unable to access it until Saturday due to dangerous conditions. A crew of search and rescue personnel successfully retrieved the body via long line helicopter procedures on Saturday.
“In early August the body of the missing skier was located at the bottom of a waterfall approximately 30 meters from the location where he had fallen into Pebble Creek. Since then, the park has been monitoring the site, including snow and water conditions, awaiting an opportunity to safely access the area.
On Saturday, August 19, a team of eight search and rescue personnel safely reached the body for extraction by a long line helicopter operation.” – Mount Rainier National Park, yesterday
Dmitri had been missing since July 3rd, 2017 when he fell through a snow bridge over Pebble Creek while skiing down from Camp Muir (10,000′) to Paradise (5,400′) on 14,411′ Mt. Rainier, WA.
His ski partner used an avalanche probe to search for his missing friend for 2 hours without success. He then skied down to the Paradise ranger station to report the accident.
Search and rescue parties were launched immediately but no sign of Dmitri was found and searches were called off the next day, July 4th 2017.
Dmitri was a medical student, a ski patroller at Heavenly CA, an EMT, and the son of the inventor of the popular video game Tetris.
Mount Rainier National Park Press Release:
August 20th, 2017
Mount Rainier National Park successfully recovered the body of a 30 year-old Washington man who, on July 3, had fallen into a hole above Pebble Creek while descending on skis from Camp Muir.
Since the initial report, the park has conducted over 22 ground and air searches of the area. Late-season snow cover, combined with unstable conditions prevented locating the skier until the snow over Pebble Creek melted out. In early August the body of the missing skier was located at the bottom of a waterfall approximately 30 meters from the location where he had fallen into Pebble Creek. Since then, the park has been monitoring the site, including snow and water conditions, awaiting an opportunity to safely access the area.
On Saturday, August 19, a team of eight search and rescue personnel safely reached the body for extraction by a long line helicopter operation. The individual was then transferred to the Pierce County Examiner, who will confirm positive identification.
Over 40 personnel assisted in the search and recovery, including Mountain Rescue Association and Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue’s Swift Water Team. The park’s exclusive use helicopter was used.
I did not know him well ,met one time ….but he was the brother of a friend of mine , and I know too well of the pain , felt deeply within ones heart after a loved one , has left the world that we know of ………….. this pain I have felt before myself ,,,,,,,,, and that it feels as if no one else can under stand , but when you also have had many friends and loved ones leave in this manner , one might perhaps be able to truly say with out any doubt , is I UNDERSTAND , THIS PAIN ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and it gets better with time ,,,, and ONE thing only , ‘LOVE NEVER DIES ”