Wow, amazing. We've been getting hammered with rain. Never stopped to think the Sierra would be getting snow. RIP to these climbers. I guess if you have to check-out doing it while pursuing your passion's the way to go.
Posted on 10/21/2004 12:36:18 AM PDT by Travis McGee
2 Japanese climbers found dead on Yosemite
Thursday, October 21, 2004 at 12:55 JST
LOS ANGELES — Two Japanese climbers were found dead Wednesday on a mountain in Yosemite National Park in California, a park ranger said.
The two — a man and a woman — died after being trapped near the peak of the 2,300-meter El Capitan, a famous rock-climbing spot, due to a blizzard, the ranger said. Their bodies have yet to be recovered. (Kyodo News)
Ping.
I can hear Kerry's reaction now - "If only Bush had signed the Kyoto treaty those climbers would not have died".
Thursday, October 21, 2004 Posted: 0308 GMT (1108 HKT)
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California (CNN) -- Two Japanese mountain climbers were discovered dead Wednesday in Yosemite National Park, a few hundred feet from the peak of the world's largest granite monolith, officials said.
The climbers, a man and a woman, had been climbing the 7,500-foot El Capitan for six days.
Their bodies were spotted by search and rescue teams a day after severe snowstorms prevented them from flying over the site, U.S. Park Ranger spokesman Scott Gediman said.
They were dangling from a 3,200-foot sheer climbing face.
El Capitan is among the world's best-known rock climbing spots.
Heavy snow and winds initially made a helicopter search impossible, so a rescue team began an 11-mile hike in driving snow and extreme wind, The Associated Press reported.
A break in the weather Wednesday allowed a helicopter to fly close to the party and rescuers determined that the two climbers were dead, park rangers told AP.
The Sierra Nevada range has been hit this week with an unusually early blizzard, and the heavy snow and high wind has hampered efforts to rescue at least 10 stranded hikers elsewhere in the rugged mountains.
The blizzard raged at higher elevations through much of Wednesday, frustrating rescuers who labored against 4-foot-deep snow and 50 mph winds to reach the areas where the hikers were thought to be, at elevations from 8,000 to close to 10,000 feet.
"It's miserable," said Erica Stuart, spokeswoman for the Madera County Sheriff's Department, told AP.
The stranded hikers included two groups of experienced backpackers along with a couple from San Luis Obispo County who apparently set out for a day hike.
Rescue workers believe the hikers can survive if they find shelter and wait for the storm to pass. Storm clouds were expected to clear Thursday night, when temperatures were expected to plunge to zero through much of the central Sierra.
"It certainly is a bona fide blizzard condition," said Mark Burger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, AP reported.
Seattle Times
Two El Capitan climbers killed in blizzard
Two Japanese climbers were found dead yesterday in Yosemite National Park, dangling from a 3,200-foot cliff amid an early blizzard that caught hikers throughout the Sierra Nevada off-guard.
The climbers on El Capitan were spotted Tuesday by rangers but could not be reached. They were among seven people on El Capitan when the storm hit Tuesday. A solo climber was rescued yesterday, while rangers reached a man and a woman and were going to remain with them on the face overnight, park ranger Deb Schweizer said. The other climbers only asked for extra supplies.
Yep. What a way to go.
Like the giant wave at the end of "A Perfect Storm."
El Capitan in a blizzard, near the top, in ropes...
Seems they would have bagged up in a bat bag and waited out the storm. Plenty of snow and ice to replenish water, rations down to one per day till they could start climbing or be rescued......it's a six day climb ??
Weatherguessers should be able to forecast a bit better with all the gizmos and gadgets available shouldn't they ??
Sad....
It is sad but that is the risks one takes.
Wow. Condolences, hey WHEN i go, I hope it's like that.
I stummbled up to Bridal Veil Falls on afternoon, and was astounded to see three chicks, just sorta hanging out, with their lip balms and sunscreen, no weapon, no cell phone.
If I was an Ursus, I coulda had a good lunch.
Well, I just scrolled the comments again here.
Scratch #b.
blizzards I know though - and theyre no place to be caught unprepared and under supplied.
I would imagine theyre passing was quite peaceful though, having experienced hypothermia firsthand - they probably drifted off to sleep
Prayers lofted
Your #13:
What a BEAUTIFUL place!
Thank you for showing us!
:-)
Yosemite National Park News Release
October 20, 2004
For Immediate Release
Severe, Early Season Storm Strands Climbers on El Capitan, Two Deceased
Yosemite National Park Rangers and search and rescue teams initiated a full scale rescue effort for climbers who were left stranded after an early winter storm in Yosemite.
Yosemite Search and Rescue initiated the rescue efforts after they surveyed the climbing routes on El Capitan after the first wave of the storm on Tuesday, October 19th. They observed a party from Japan on The Nose. They had no porta-ledge and were not moving.
Weather conditions initially made use of the park helicopter impossible, so the rescue team had to hike in over eleven miles in driving snow, extreme wind, and poor visibility. It required a technical rescue to get the search team down to the stranded parties.
A break in the weather allowed the helicopter to fly this afternoon. They were able to fly close to the Japanese party and determined that they were deceased.
Rescuers then diverted their attentions to other parties on El Capitan. One solo climber on The Tempest requested assistance and the team helped him off the wall. Another rescue is underway for a team on Never Never Land and will likely continue into tomorrow. Other parties either declined a rescue or asked for additional supplies.
Yosemite Search and Rescue was assisted by Marin County, Placer County, and Mariposa County Search and Rescue teams. Approximately 80 personnel were involved in the rescue operations.
Another result of the storm was several rockslides in the park, one which closed Highway 140 for several hours. It has now re-opened. Another rockslide on Northside Drive in Yosemite Valley has closed that road. Traffic is being re-routed on Southside Drive. The normally one-way road is handling two-way traffic. Both The Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) and the Wawona Road (Highway 41) were closed for periods today because of either rockslides or accidents.
Travelers to Yosemite should expect winter conditions. Tire chains are required to enter the park.
-NPS-
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