[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10895]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING NATIONAL PARK CLIMBING RANGER NICK HALL AND OTHER CLIMBING 
                                RANGERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, July 9, 2012

  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize a hero who died last 
month leading an effort to save four climbers on Mt. Rainier in 
Washington State.
  On June 21 four climbers fell into a crevasse on a glacier on Mt. 
Rainier. National Park Climbing Ranger Nick Hall and other Climbing 
Rangers braved the elements and terrain to rescue the climbers and get 
them the medical attention they desperately needed. Mr. Hall, a 33-
year-old four-year veteran of Mt. Rainier's Climbing Ranger team, 
tragically fell more than 2,500 feet down the side of the mountain. The 
Climbing Ranger team was unable to communicate with Mr. Hall after his 
fall and continued their heroic efforts to save the four climbers. All 
four climbers were saved and all suffered non-life threatening 
injuries. I applaud the heroic efforts of the rescue team.
  Rangers did reach Mr. Hall hours after the rescue mission began, but, 
sadly, determined that he had died as a result of his fall. Because of 
heavy snow, clouds, and the threat of an avalanche, Mr. Hall's body 
could not immediately be recovered. Finally, on Thursday, July 5, Mt. 
Rainier National Park personnel were able to confirm that Mr. Hall's 
body had been recovered.
  Mr. Speaker, It has been a tough year at Mt. Rainier. On January 1 
Park Ranger Margaret Anderson was gunned down at Mt. Rainier by a 
fleeing gunman. Now Nick Hall has lost his life saving climbers on the 
mountain. I grieve with the friends, family, and colleagues left 
behind.
  The week of July 15 has been declared ``Stand With Those Who Serve 
Week'' in Washington. Nick Hall is the latest example of someone 
willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. Today I 
stand with members of the Park Service, Mt. Rainier Superintendent 
Randy King, and the supportive communities around the mountain.

                          ____________________