Posted on 12/17/2006 7:53:05 AM PST by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Bump
Does anyone have any updates from Fox, etc?
No. They're just continuing to show old footage of the mountain. I could've sworn one of the rescuers was digging at the site of the cave at least 10 minutes ago, but haven't heard anything about that.
Mainly chatter, trying to get into cave...
I doubt that the noise increases avalanches releasing early.
Usually humans or bombs are needed to trigger the avalanche...
Thanks.
I know that they can install ski lift towers at ski areas pretty high ( 12,500 feet ? ).
But they must be otherwise empty.
Nope. What time is sunset out there? I'm guessing 4:30 local time? I suppose they have to get the rescuers off the mountain by nightfall, right?
Housley doing filler, prepare for worst, pray for best. Rescuers still making way down...11,ooo feet, they are probably all a little winded in the rescue( assuming rescuers from elevation of 100' to 1000' above sea level).
No, they're prepared to spend the night on the mountain.
More Another little known variant of the ubiquitous Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the C-130H2 Scathe View, is operated by the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152 Airlift Wing based at Reno-Tahoe international airport.
The 152 Airlift Wing operates eight of these unique aircraft that are designed to provide Combatant Commanders with reach-back communications and increased awareness of what is actually happening on the battlefield.
The aircraft are fitted with an extensive communications fit, including SATCOM.
In addition, they carry a FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) daylight TV system, a spotter scope and a laser rangerfinder.
A particularly important capability carried by this aircraft is the ability to provide a video link to the US Air Force ROVER (Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiver) that can provide near real-time sensor fed video footage to laptop based portable ground receivers.
Thanks :
" Helicopter lands on the top of Mount Everest..."
Very impressive.
Sunrise and set - 7:46 AM 4:28 PM
How does the weather look for tomorrow? I hope it will be clear and calm again!
Thanks!
The snow cave is empty.
" I suppose they have to get the rescuers off the mountain by nightfall, right? "
They should have head lamps with extra batteries to descend at night.
It will be well below zero tonight, so they are likely well dressed and equiped ( stoves with extra gas, sleeping bags, shovels to dig more caves...)
They also have extra food, too.
With four plus feet of soft snow, it will not be an easy night if they have to walk out.
Ho-lee-crap.
Where the hell did they go??
That's what I'm wondering. If I had to guess, I suspect the body will be found not far from the snow cave. Apparently the sleeping bag and ice axes were left in the cave, which certainly doesn't bode well for rational thought.
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