Climber rescued after fall into crevasse at Mount Rainier

A climber was rescued this morning from Mount Rainier after he fell into a crevasse near Kautz Glacier on Tuesday.

Mitchell Bell, in his mid-50s, was in a climbing party of five when he lost his footing and fell into the crevasse. In the next couple of hours, members of his party, including a doctor who assessed his condition, pulled him out.

Shortly afterward, some members of his party descended about 2,000 feet and found guides at Alpine Ascents International who contacted the National Park Service around 8:30 p.m. via radio.

A Chinook military helicopter was dispatched from Fort Lewis this morning, and Bell was taken to the Army's Madigan Hospital around 7 a.m. today.

"He seems to be doing OK. He definitely sustained some injuries," said David Gottlieb, a lead climbing ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. "He looks like he lost some teeth, possibly broke some ribs."

Arla Shephard: 206-515-5632 or ashephard@seattletimes.com