Relatives Keep Hope for Missing Climbers ( eight days )

The Associated Press ^ | Dec 15, 2006 | JOSEPH B. FRAZIER

[bigfootbob]

I fear for these poor fools. 1st it has been a terrible Winter here in the PNW and why they'd venture onto the mountain in-between storms is any body's guess. Last night we had one of the worst storms ever. Over 1,000,000 in Washington are without power this morning.

Prayers up for the families.

[Suzy Quzy]

It would be SOOOOOO cool after 8 DAYS to find them on Hanukkah!!

[george76]

I read that people were dying from the cold winter storm at low elevations too.

[L98Fiero]

"it has been a terrible Winter here in the PNW and why they'd venture onto the mountain in-between storms is any body's guess."

Mother Nature is our b1+ch, haven't you heard? We control the weather, according to Al Gore. Besides, there's a resuce center right down the mountain to take care of anybody who gets into trouble and it's free. /s

I do feel for these guys but, dang.

[CottShop]

sorry these folks are missing BUT the searchers ARE risking their lives as a result of their assininity and if they find these folks alive- they SHOULB be fined and compensated for risking hte lives of the searchers! Just posted in the teacher sex scandal thread & the poor sissy is whining about 'having his life ruined by the experience' (or others are squaking about it?) and here people ARE actually risking their lives searching for folks in horrid conditions? I'm weighing the differences between the two cases & somehow the teacher sex scandal thing doesn't compute on the 'victimization' scale. http://sacredscoop.com

[george76]

About 1.5 million homes and businesses in Washington and Oregon had no power early Friday after howling windstorms and heavy rains caused at least three deaths, closed two major bridges and sparked flooding.

One of the concourses at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was without electricity, and an airport spokesman said some flights likely would be canceled.

The Oregon Department of Transportation closed three major highways crossing the Cascade Range because of fallen trees or downed power lines, and winds gusted past 90 mph on the Oregon coast.

The National Weather Service said rainfall was expected to be as high as 8 inches on the coast and 5 inches in the Cascade Range, with snow at higher elevations.

The Associated Press

[John123]

after the lightly equipped men left for a two-day ascent.

Why in God's name are these people always unprepared???

[princess leah]

In Arizona, most of the roads to the Grand Canyon are closed from like November - March. Why can't they close off roads and climbers need to wait until decent spring/summer weather to go climbing...

[davisfh]

I'm so sick of this silly a$$ed crap that I'll not even comment except to say: "It is one thing to go in harm's way for a noble purpose. It is quite another to go in harm's way for no purpose at all."

[ndt]

"Why can't they close off roads and climbers need to wait until decent spring/summer weather to go climbing..."

Because it's hard to do a winter assent in spring.

[bonfire]

I'm with you.

[L98Fiero]

Apparently it's pretty damn hard to do 'em in the winter, too.

[ndt]

"Why in God's name are these people always unprepared???"

Actually it's hard to say if they were or were not by a description of "lightly equipped men". Often the safest way to get up and off a mountain is to move fast and light.

[mcashman]

"Why in God's name are these people always unprepared???"

If they're prepared they don't need to be rescued. There are hundreds or thousands of winter ascents every year that never make the news - because they are successful.

[TexasGunLover]

MSNBC Reporting that a note left by the climbers has been found by the rescuers.

[Youngman442002]

We are soon going to find out how good of outdoorsmen these climbers are....and then a book and movie to follow I am sure

[ndt]

"sorry these folks are missing BUT the searchers ARE risking their lives as a result of their assininity and if they find these folks alive- they SHOULB be fined and compensated for risking hte lives of the searchers!"

I'm not sure of the rules on Mount Hood, but it is not uncommon to base a decision to charge for the rescue on whether the climbers were prepared.

Unprepared = They pay
Prepared but slapped down by the hand of god = No charge

The majority of the Search and Rescues are for day hikers, even in areas with heavy climing density like Yosemite.

[george76]

Was this the note found inside of the rental car at the trail head giving details of their planned route ?

or a second note found elsewhere on the mountain ?

[Sicon]

Yes, "fast and light" was their intention. They were doing a "rapid ascent" climb. Not sure what the elevation is at the trailhead where they set out, but it seems that their plan was to climb on Thursday, camp that night relatively high on the mountain, hit the summit early Friday, and return to the trailhead late Friday, or possibly camp low on the mountain on Friday night and return to the trailhead early Saturday. This is why they were "lightly equipped". They had no intention or expectation of being up there for a week+. And really, if they reached the summit on Friday morning with decent weather (which is what they must have been anticipating), it would have been relatively easy to make the entire descent on Friday. As such, they were probably only prepared for one night on the mountain, and carrying only enough food and water (or fuel to melt snow) to last them one and a half days.

Unfortunately, it is extremely likely that they are all dead by now.