[george76]

I hope it was just the pad.

---

No Climbers Found in Mount Hood Snow Cave

HOOD RIVER, Ore. (AP) -- A snow cave near the peak of Mount Hood contained a sleeping bag, ice axes and rope, but not the three climbers who have been missing for more than a week, authorities said Sunday.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MISSING_CLIMBERS?SITE=CODER&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-12-17-18-04-05"class="ap-newsbriefitem-a;

[george76]

[surfer]

Some searchers are following footprints leading up from the cave toward the summit, Hood County Sheriff's Deputy Marc Smith said.

At least one searcher entered the cave and found several items inside: a sleeping pad, ice axes and rope. Previously, searchers may have found a backpack, some rope and ice anchors outside the cave, he said, although there is conflicting information over what was found.

http://www.oregonlive.com/newslogs/oregonian/index.ssf?/mtlogs/olive_oregonian_news/archives/2006_12.html#216577