Your locally owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington
Mount Si kicks off Scarlet and Gray classic Page 6
September 4, 2014
New community park honors former mayor
Courtesy of Brian Dickinson
Climbing Mount Everest solo was challenging for Snoqualmie man Brian Dickinson. But the return trip was worse. He couldn’t see due to snow blindness.
BLIND DESCENT Snoqualmie man had to climb back down Mount Everest alone and snow blind By Sam Kenyon Brian Dickinson reached the summit of Mount Everest by himself. The Sherpa who was to accompany him had fallen ill, so Dickinson pushed on to the top of the famed mountain, climbing the final 3,035 feet alone. As he began his descent, the Snoqualmie man lost his sight — completely. “As soon as the sun came up, it just fried my corneas,” Dickinson said. The flood of ultraviolet light at sunrise burned his eyes, a condition known as photokeratitis or snow blindness. Dickinson, who has lived with his family in Snoqualmie for eight years, tells the story of how he survived the impossible in his recent book, “Blind Descent: Surviving Alone and Blind on Mount Everest.” “I was at the top of the world, completely alone, and blind,” he said. “Instead of pan-
icking, I started moving. Just one step in front of the other.” Dickinson is accustomed to danger. He has summited the highest mountain on every continent. From 1993 to 1999, he was an air rescue swimmer with the Navy. Dickinson wasn’t part of a climb team when he made his Everest climb in 2011. Tasang, the Sherpa he hired, had become ill and had to remain at the high camp at 26,000 feet. Dickinson had chosen to push on and summit alone. Anything above 26,000 feet is known as the “Death Zone.” The summit of Mount Everest is 29,035 feet. “Everything is in slow motion.” Dickinson said. “If you cut your finger, it won’t heal up there. There’s just not enough air. You can’t survive up there long.” Without sight, Dickinson slowly descended. His eyes were in pain and all he could see was a blinding whiteness. He used the existing rope guides and his
“I was not going to stop, I wouldn’t become another statistic, I just kept moving. Death was not an option.” — Brian Dickinson Snoqualmie resident harness to find his way down. At one point, he had to cross what is known as the “Cornice Traverse.” “It’s about two feet wide and it’s a two-mile drop to the left into Tibet, and a two-mile drop to the right into Nepal,” he said. Though his situation was dire, he didn’t allow himself to feel too much fear. His Navy training kicked in and he just kept moving, making his way down the mountain. The lack of sight made progress sluggish. The descent from the summit to high camp should take three hours. Dickinson took seven. “So, everyone down below just thought the worst had happened,” he said. “There’s a couple hundred bodies still up See DESCENT, Page 2
The grand opening of the Jeanne Hansen Community Park, a new multipurpose park with a rain garden, large picnic shelter, two Jeanne playgrounds, Hansen tennis court and three sports fields and trails, will be celebrated from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 in Snoqualmie. The party includes a free barbecue dinner, ice cream truck, face painting, games, bouncy castle and a formal dedication at 5:30 p.m. The opening commemorates the completion of Snoqualmie Ridge 1 and 2 and honors former Mayor Jeanne Hansen. Joan Pliego, spokeswoman for the city of Snoqualmie, described Hansen as the “quintessential public servant.” She served the city for 21 years as a planning commissioner, a City Council member and finally the mayor from 1988 to 1997. The Snoqualmie Parks Board
If you go Jeanne Hansen Community Park Grand Opening q 34226 S.E. Jacobia St., Snoqualmie q Dedication and community celebration q 4:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 6
recommended naming the park after Hansen and the City Council unanimously approved it. Funding for the $1.8 million park new park came from several sources. The city contributed $1 million; the Pulte Group, a homebuilding company and one of the sponsors of the grand opening event, donated $650,000; and the Snoqualmie Valley Youth Soccer Association contributed $170,000 to the construction of the third athletic field. The Mount Si Lacrosse Club gave $7,800. Learn more about the park at http://bit.ly/1pNcuqp or email info@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us.
Adventure Sport Festival returns to take over downtown North Bend A zip line, inflatable obstacle course and laser tag will be part of the third annual Adventure Sport Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in North Bend Sept. 6. The outdoor and fitnessthemed activities celebrate the recreational opportunities in the Snoqualmie Valley. Most activities at the Adventure Sport Festival are free. Participants will also get to cheer for the relay teams finishing the North Bend Iron Horse Traverse. The event starts in Snoqualmie Pass, and includes paddling, mountain and road race biking, and running from
the pass to North Bend. Learn more or register at www.northbendtraverse.com. If you are interested in joining in on the fun as a volunteer, email Lisa Yeager at lisa.yeager@ encompassnw.org. Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER