Originally published April 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 13, 2008 at 3:02 AM
Snowmobiler survives fall into Mount St. Helens
Rescuers in southwest Washington are working to remove an injured man from the crater of Mount St. Helens, after he apparently fell into the crater late Saturday afternoon.
YACOLT, Wash. -- A snowmobiler from Oregon suffered an injured leg but survived a fall of up to 200 feet into the crater of Mount St. Helens on Saturday.
Skamania County Undersheriff Dave Cox says 52-year-old John Slemp, from Damascus, Ore., was on one of three snowmobiles that climbed to the west crater rim.
Cox says Slemp got off his snowmobile and walked out onto a cornice overhanging the crater when it gave way.
He reportedly fell 100 to 200 feet before landing on the inside slope of the crater. He then slid on his hands and knees to the bottom of the crater.
He was wearing his snowmobile helmet, and Cox said there is a heavy snowpack in the area, so snow may have broken his fall.
Officials were notified at 5:20 p.m., and a private helicopter flew two paramedics to the crater and located Slemp about 7 p.m.
He had an injured leg, but was able with assistance to get to the helicopter and be flown out to Yacolt.
His exact condition and whether he required transport to a hospital weren't immediately known.
Cox says the U.S. Forest Service will investigate the incident.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 11:34 PM
Teen is beaten in bus tunnel; Metro to review policies
UPDATE - 12:15 AM
School levies passing in most area districts
NEW - 10:16 PM
Medical pot exceeds law, but no charges
Seattle physician Brian Krabak will do more than treat injuries at Winter Olympics
NEW - 10:39 PM
Two names dominate as Seattle begins police-chief search

general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
EMPI Tens Kit - $400
Nintendo DS lite - $90
Wanted 4 tickets - $50
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
events for Wednesday, Feb. 10
- Sweet Tooth Classic at the Tasting Room
- Winter Sale at Tricoter
- Trunk Show and Benefit at Vian Hunter
- "Give Love, Get Love" Benefit at Clementine
editors' picks
- Garden furnishings
- Independent bookstores
- Vintage, consignment and used clothing
- Pioneer Square shopping
- Steve Kelley | My treatment of Bedard has been unfair
- Is Washington's tax exemption on bullion a gold mine?
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Super Bowl ads: Betty White, Bud Light, big laughs
- Man found shot dead in pickup truck in Seattle
- Sex, drug rumors swirl about N.Y. Gov. Paterson
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Lewis-McChord soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old over alphabet lesson
- Husky Football Blog | Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
- Republicans may be no-shows at health-plan summit
278 - Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
249 - State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
244 - Lee undergoes foot surgery
231 - Obama: GOP and Dems together can spur job growth
210 - Fort Lewis soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old, holding her head in water
193 - Rivals names Martin one of Pac-10's best recruiters
143 - Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
127 - White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium
91 - Bus-tunnel attack while guards watched prompts review of Metro security
87
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- City, Vulcan push higher South Lake Union height limits
- Commentary: Microsoft's creative destruction
- Snap out of your photo funk: How to make sense of all those piles of images
- Wine Adviser | Oregon's quality pinots join the bargain ranks
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- Jerry Large | Learning not to copy China
- All You Can Eat | Portage chef Vuong Loc takes Cremant space in Madrona
- Rigorous college-prep classes skyrocketing in Washington state

