Posted on 12/17/2006 2:56:29 PM PST by meg88
No one found in snow cave on Mt. Hood By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER
The Associated Press
Related
Missing climber's trail in China elusive
HOOD RIVER, Ore. – Rescuers searched a snow cave just below the summit of Mount Hood on today but didn't find any of the three climbers missing since last weekend, an official said.
A sleeping bag, ice axes and rope were found in the snow cave, said Sgt. Gerry Tiffany, spokesman for the Hood River County Sheriff's Office.
"I'm sure it is very frustrating for those guys on the mountain," Tiffany said at a news conference. "I know I was frustrated."
Tiffany said he assumes the snow cave was the one from which missing climber Kelly James made a distress call with his cell phone to relatives a week ago.
Despite the disappointment, Tiffany said searchers are drawing hope from discovery of the snow cave.
"They hunkered down in the snow and they survived there for a while, helping themselves, hiking out of there, climbing out of there."
He said "they could have made another snow cave somewhere" else. "We're by no means ready to give up yet," he said.
Earlier in the afternoon, searchers were lowered by helicopter onto a ridge over the snow cave.
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
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Somehow that man giving the report didn't quite seem credible.
If they are now following footprints, doesn't that indicate that they are alive and making such prints SINCE the recent storm.
Storms will fill up prints in the snow within minutes.
Trust me. The difference in gradient between north and south face is dramatic enough to make the choice clearly. South is best, and can be as little as a 3 hour hike down in optimal conditions. Optimal, however, is April - early September.
I'm trusting you. I know nothing about mountain climbing. The man just looked as tho we wasn't telling the whole truth.
They claim a sleeping bag was left behind in the cave. If that was the only sleeping bag whoever was in there had, that could be a sign of hypothermia, delirium or whatever, that they no longer were making rational decisions.
Moonbat territory out there...
I think there's more to this story...Why climb an 11,000 foot mountain in December?
Most popular words up here in the PNW this winter has been "hunkered down" LOL Us natives have been saying it quiet often even in our own daily lives.
Why on earth would they leave their equipment behind, particularly a sleeping bag?
Which I don't blame them for doing.
Why have other climbers done the same thing through the years? Was there more to their stories, too? Just wondering...
I think it was a sleeping "pad", not a bag.
Very weird, on such a nice day you would think if they were alive, they could signal somehow.
Prayers to all.
so no global warming ?
because they are idiots and suicidal! Seriously, why climb a mountain like Hood when clearly the forecast was saying not good conditions to climb. Why climb this mountai in December when Christmas is around the corner? Why put your family though such stress during the holidays! This just makes no sense at all!
I also think is is strange that the snow cave was empty with a left behind sleeping bag. Not good IMO!
I have no doubt the the intensity of the weather ovewhelmed and surprised these climbers, but I also know that poor weather was predicted before they went up. Now we are spending millions to rescue them.
I'm angry with them, but pray for their safe recovery.
I guess the tax payers are going to have to eat the bill for this operation. Seems like the" expert" mountaineers weren't so expert after all.
I'm getting tired of the people having to pay for people's stupidity.
I guess that there is overtime but my husband says those guys are all technonerds and crisis junkies (good things in any society btw and not meant as a pejorative) and that they love using their equipment and training.
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