Ore. searchers thwarted again by weather ( Day 11 : Mt Hood )

, Associated Press ^ | Dec 17 | JOSEPH B. FRAZIER

[george76]

Fervent hopes and a brief break in the weather brought no satisfaction to relatives and friends of three climbers missing on the dangerous north side of Mount Hood.

The clear, cold morning turned foul by midday Saturday, before searchers on two sides of the mountain and helicopter crews retired for the night because of weather and darkness, finding no trace of the three men.

The Hood River County sheriff's office, a lead agency in the search, said efforts would continue Sunday.

On Saturday, a C-130 with infrared heat-seeking capability from the Nevada Air National Guard took to the skies over Mount Hood for a second day and was to continue around the clock with alternating crews.

After that, "we'll have to see," said Sheriff Joe Wampler.

Cold also hobbled rescue efforts, as some searchers on the north side had to come down because of facial frostbite.

The temporary weather break paved the way for the biggest push yet since the three men, two Texans and a New Yorker, were reported missing a week ago Sunday on what was to have been a quick climb of the 11,239-foot peak.

Ground searchers reported visibility as low as 20 feet as 50 mph winds kicked soft snow into a near-whiteout mist.

"It wasn't quite the dream picture we had hoped for today. But there is the chance tomorrow...

Before dawn, 25 rescue mountaineers began making their way up the south side and another 30 started from the north side, Wampler said. Both teams started at about 6,000 feet.

"I know my son's coming down today," said Lou Ann Cameron of Bryant, Ark., mother of Kelly James...

"It's my birthday. He wouldn't miss my birthday," ...

"The mountain has no right to keep our sons."

[cva66snipe]

I think if I got stuck up that high I'd want a VHF capabilities. Distance wise best chance for a hit. But a person could quickly become bogged down in radio equipment alone. A GMRS or a VHF HAM though I'd want the hand help HAM radio.

I remember a few year back up in the Smokey's a grade school class was on a field trip. Thy were actually down in a low valley in a creek basin with 5000Ft mountains above. One kid who had an amateur License brought his VHF hand held. A classmate fell in the creek and drown. The boy despite the terrain was able to summon help. They were 2.5 miles down trail even from the parking lot where they began the hike.

[crz]

These photos tell me they are there as far as air is concerned. All they got to do is get the search crews on the ground.

[george76]

There must be alot of noise from the birds above.

A willing and able rescuee should be out of the cave today in the sunlight ( hopefully with a mirror, etc. ).

[surfer]

This is what I have read about the items seen from the air...

Rescue official also said Sunday that air search teams had spotted some "positive" signs that are helping them narrow their search to specific areas on the mountain.

Capt. Christopher Bernard, of the Air Force Reserve's 304th Rescue Squadron, wouldn't say exactly what was spotted, other than it is "climbing specific."

Search teams are headed to those areas where indicators where found.

"We found some very positive things up there, and that's what we have to look into," said Sgt. Sean Collinson of the Clackamas County sheriff's office. "But again, it's just determining whether we can get to see these things close up and to do it safely...

"In the next few hours, I would expect some major developments. But until that time, we just have to go with what we have right now."

How did you come up with - this does not look good...is there another piece of information I am missing?

Thanks...

[sissyjane]

BREAKING NEWS: Searchers find signs of one of the climbers


A helicopter surveying the Mount Hood summit this morning has captured images of what appears to be a snow cave, scattered equipment and what looks like frozen tracks in the snow.

Search organizers plan to airlift pararescuers to the summit by helicopter so they can make their way to the area by foot.

oregonlive.com

[surfer]

Even at the base location for the presser today they had to stop for a while from all the noise of the aircraft...it must be really loud up there...

[surfer]

Great find...that is some positive news!!!

[crz]

Simply experience my family has conveyed to me. If you had read my prior post you would know they are familiar with that area.

Common sense tells us that even though planes and choppers have been flying round about, there has yet to be a time when these guys have come out and acted like they were eager to be rescued. This leaves us with only a couple choices. Either they are unable to come out or are dead.

Sorry...but I cant make it any more clear.

[george76]

What is the reasonable working elevation ceilings on these helicopters ?

Loaded with resucers, equipment, fuel, etc...?

[george76]

I hope that someone sticks their head out of their cave...

it must be really loud up there...

[sissyjane]

I don't know, but we should be hearing something soon.

[Issaquahking]

Highest rescue with a chopper was from the top of McKinley. Depends on the birds they have.

[george76]

Thanks.

I saw the video a few years ago at Mt Hood of the rescue helicopter that crashed. It looked like was working real hard to lift off mid- mountain.

[BIGLOOK]

As a rule, 10,000 ft. Sikorskys can go 14,000 ft in favorable conditions.

Years ago, my cousin died climbing one of the western peaks under similar circumstances; turned his back on the weather.

[Issaquahking]

I can't find the article right of the top of my head, but know they've done top once. here is another article about a lower one on the great one -

The 1998 climbing season was typical in that it involved climbing deaths and several life-saving rescue missions. The policy of the National Park Service is to `make reasonable efforts to search

As a general rule, the National Park Service does not recover search and rescue costs. When individual search and rescue incidents cost more than $500, they are paid from a central account ¨2­maintained by the National Park Service. Nationally, most incidents involve the use of motor vehicles or boats, or are searches for lost hikers. These search and rescue activities cost the National Park Service approximately $3 million per year.

At Denali, the National Park Service spends about $742,000 per year on the entire mountaineering program, including rescues. This figure includes the contract for the high altitude helicopter, supplies, educational material, salaries and work done to support good sanitation practices and other resource protection work in the Alaska Range.

Just last summer the military and the Park Service spent four days and $221,818 rescuing 6 sick and injured British climbers who disregarded warnings and advice from park rangers stationed on the mountain. This rescue included what is probably the world's highest short haul helicopter rescue at 19,000 feet and entailed a very high level of risk for the rescue team. This is just one example of many rescues the Park Service conducts each year on Mt. McKinley.

[surfer]

sorry for your loss...you must know what this family is going through!

[george76]

Sorry for your cousin. Weather has driven me off many a peak.

What about Chinook's working elevation ( loaded with people and equipment ) ?

[sissyjane]

BREAKING NEWS: Searchers find signs of climbers



A helicopter surveying the Mount Hood summit this morning has captured images of what appears to be a snow cave, scattered equipment and what looks like frozen tracks in the snow, according to veteran climber and Hood River Crag Rat search and rescue member Bill Pattison.

At noon a Chinook helicopter staffed with parajumpers and medics was en route to the area where a possible snow cave has been sited along with scattered equipment and tracks in the snow.

The area is at the 11,000-foot elevation, said Marc Smith, a deputy with the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office. He said little else is known about the siting, including how fresh the tracks are and whether it appears to be the tracks of one person or more.

[Abigail Adams]

Waiting for a presser coming up at kgw.com

[California74]

presser starting now.