SNOQUALMIE PASS – Earlier this month Alpental Volunteer Ski Patrol member Doug Hall was honored by the American Red Cross at its eighth annual Heroes Breakfast for his rescue efforts during a ski accident last March.

The breakfast honors courageous acts by community members (both young and old) police officers, firefighters and medical personnel who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Last March Peter Mumford was skiing at Alpental when he lost control and skied into an area that had been closed due to unstable snowpack. After entering the closed area, Mumford fell forward into an hole where he ended up face down in a creek. To make the situation worse, the unstable snowshelf above the hole Mumford had fallen into collapsed on him, trapping his head partially underwater.

Mumford’s sons sought help after their dad disappeared while they were skiing down the slope. Help came in the form of Hall, who was about 40 yards down-slop from the incident. Hall was led back to the hole where Mumford had fallen and only saw a portion of one of Mumford’s skis. Hall then climbed down into the hole to investigate.

Hall found Mumford and began clearing snow off of him to begin checking his vital signs. Mumford was apneic, cyanotic and unconscious laying face down in several inches of water. Hall was able to clear Mumford’s airway and stimulated him into breathing again. Other patrollers began to arrive to help.