Posted on 12/13/2006 8:23:48 AM PST by george76
Three climbers stranded on blizzard-ravaged Mount Hood selected one of the most difficult approaches to the summit, a decision that is hampering rescue efforts.
The trio scaled the north side of the mountain, which offers a view of Mount Rainier but is treacherous, with slopes of 50 or 60 degrees and occasional sheer walls of ice.
For rescue crews, the site has been made even more forbidding by snow-laden winds rushing over the steep slopes at speeds up to 80 mph.
"Those are the strongest winds I've ever been in — knock you down, hands and knees," said Lindsay Clunes of Corvallis Mountain Rescue, one of the dozens of searchers who have been looking for the three climbers since last weekend.
Kelly James, Brian Hall and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke had planned a "quick climb" on Mount Hood, traveling light to make the ascent as fast as possible.
They had not been heard from since Sunday, when James called on his cell phone from a snow cave just below the summit. The Hood River County sheriff's office said it would mount another full effort early Wednesday.
Cooke, 36, a lawyer from New York City, and Hall, 37, a personal trainer who played for the now-defunct Dallas Rockets professional soccer team, are believed to have attempted a descent while James, 48, a landscape architect from Dallas, apparently remained near the summit.
Even if crews locate the missing climbers, bad weather may prevent them from climbing high enough to rescue them, said Deputy Pete Hughes, a sheriff's spokesman.
"The next 48 hours is not looking very good,"
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
.
Why were they doing this in December?
Seriously, I object to risking more lives to save people who should have known better.
Many times climbers try "easier" mountains in the winter to prepare for tougher climbs (e.g. Everest).
I agree. While I pray for their safe rescue/return, part of me gets mad at these extreme sports enthusiasts who are looking for the big thrill who not only risk their own lives but those of the people who are committed to their rescue. Not to mention the costs associated with their rescue as well.
Isnt "danger" their middle names?
They went up there on their own let them figure out how to get down.
With the cold, winter weather blowing in from the ocean...many rescuers will be put at risk.
I hope they're OK and I hope they pay the bill.
ht Rb ver. 2.0
The rescuers work at their own discretion and there's no one poking them in the back to climb up and get the stranded climbers, so I've got no problem with the concept of rescuers. Besides, there are plenty of cases of truly haples victims getting lost or hurt that need rescuing and where exactly do you draw the line?
Also, I've been at 10,000 feet in 80-100 mph winds. Not fun. We weren't in danger, but man, you feel nature's power down to your bones.
These guys were dumb, but I feel sorry for them too.
Even with volunteer rescuers, the bill could be tens of thousands of dollars.
Some states have programs for hikers, fishermen, hunters... where some of the fee money goes to rescues. If one has a license, then any rescues are 'free.'
You CAN do a "quick climb" of Mt. Hood.....but NOT this time of year. Mt. Hood is the mountain where a bunch of kids died in about 1984/5.....it can be wicked, even as it can sometimes be easy. These guys were stupid.
According to last nights news, emergency locators for mountain rescue are required to be carried to climb Mt Hood.
$5 rental. The climbers were from out of state so it was deduced that they may have been unaware of the requirement.
I thought all climbers were required to "check in".....so it seems odd they would not have an emergency locator....and if they did NOT, they are even stupider than I first deduced.
A special prayer for the brave men who would try for a rescue.
I'm sure it could be.
However, he's an attorney who owns a multifamily home in one of Brooklyn's nicest neighborhoods.
He can pay for it.
Some states have programs for hikers, fishermen, hunters... where some of the fee money goes to rescues. If one has a license, then any rescues are 'free.'
Interesting system. Perhaps the national parks could start requiring climbers' or hikers' insurance to pay for rescues. That might motivate climbers to be smarter and plan more carefully.
They apparently left a note inside of their rental car as to which route they hoped to take down.
This is nuts, we have been having an unending stretch of nasty weather since the beginning of November. I'm not a big fan of gov't regulation, but there needs to be some sort of sanity injected into this type of risk taking, make the climbers apply for a permit, the day before such a trek. There is no reason to cause the inevitable rescuers to be subjected to the rigors, expense and risk of the search.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.