Ome Daiber

This short documentary provides an early history of the U.S. Mountain Rescue Association (MRA), with a focus on events in the Pacific Northwest during the 1940’s and 50’s. It shows the Alpine roots of Mountain Rescue in the United States, and how the changing conditions in the Northwest after World War II provided a need for local mountain rescue teams.

A group including Ome Daiber simulates a mountain rescue and demonstrates technical rescue technique, possibly on Mount Si. A man ties into a climbing rope and leads the way up a cliff, placing pitons for safety. Rescuers haul a litter up the cliff, assemble it, and lower an accident victim. Rescuers rappel down the cliff and transport the victim to the cars.

A silent, extended version of the crevasse rescue sequence in 'Mountains Don't Care', including more detail of rescue equipment and techniques. A pair of roped climbers demonstrate a crevasse fall and self-rescue using prussiks. A film by Bob and Ira Spring featuring Ome Daiber.

Produced by the Seattle Mountain Rescue Council in 1953, featuring Ome Daiber (founder of Seattle Mountain Rescue), with Jim and Lou Whittaker. After World War II, returning soldiers and their families flocked to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest in search of recreation. This classic Ira Spring film was probably the first mountain safety film ever produced, it responded to a need to inform local citizens of possible dangers in the mountains. It also features some of the most notable mountaineers of the century, including Ome Daiber, and both Jim and Lou Whittaker. Today this film can still be used to further one of the objectives of the Mountain Rescue Association: public mountain safety education.