Last year, two friends went climbing outside of Seattle, Washington, and it could have been the last thing they ever did. As one climber (Ross) was up about 30 feet off the ground, with his friend Jeni belaying, a swarm of yellowjackets swarmed Jeni, repeatedly stinging her body and face. She began screaming, signaling to Ross that he needed to descend. She managed to belay him safely to the ground, but then the venomous insects began swarming him, too.
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Both climbers were stung over 100 times, with Ross receiving over 150 yellowjacket stings. The pair survived, but Ross’s body entered a state of shock due to an unknown wasp venom allergy. He was flowing in and out of consciousness as Good Samaritans and paramedics helped them off the trail. Thankfully, they got Ross to the hospital before it was too late.
[RELATED: WATCH: Rescue Crews Lift Injured Climber off 700-Foot Cliff]
Jeni and Ross recently opened up about their harrowing experience to Seattle Mountain Rescue. A year later, the climbers hope that others can learn from their ordeal, reminding climbers that emergencies don’t always come from the hazard you expect, and that basic wilderness medical training matters. Both have continued to climb, hike, and do other outdoor things they enjoy, but now Ross carries epinephrine in his first aid kit. He has also had to learn to be ok with yellowjackets’ presence around him as he climbs.
Read the whole story about the climbers who got swarmed by yellowjackets here.
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