It's pretty hard for me to understand why, if you need rescue, you'd head UP the mountain from a snow cave.
That's insane.
They were near the summit; the route down the mountain on the other side was easier then if they had gone back on the slope they were on.
Suggested on Fox today, by someone, that they were so close to the summit, that may have been the easiest, quickest way to get to the south side and an easier descent.
Body of missing climber found dead in snow cave on Mount Hood
Story Published: Dec 17, 2006 at 4:21 PM PST
Story Updated: Dec 17, 2006 at 4:56 PM PSTBy JOSEPH B. FRAZIER Associated Press Writer
HOOD RIVER, Ore. (AP) - Rescuers looking for three missing climbers on Mount Hood found a body Sunday in the area where one of the climbers made a distress call a week ago, authorities said.
The dead climber had not yet been identified, said Pete Hughes, a spokesman for the Hood River County Sheriff's Office. The victim was believed to be one of the three missing climbers, authorities said.
A Chinook helicopter lifted the body from the 11,239-foot mountain and took it to Hood River, said Karl Tesch, another spokesman for the sheriff's office.
The body was found in a second snow cave near another snow cave where rescuers found a sleeping bag, ice axes and rope, officials said.
"Our hearts are going out to the families right now," said Capt. Mike Braibish, spokesman for the Oregon National Guard.
Rescuers planned to come off the mountain early Sunday evening and review the information gathered Sunday before making tomorrow's plans, Braibish said.
"The searchers are putting their heart and soul into this," he said. "There is a common focus. We continue to search. We continue to look. We continue to remain optimistic. We remain hopeful."
Near the first snow cave, helicopters had spotted rope that had been intentionally laid out in a Y-shape, which some rescuers said is commonly used by climbers to indicate their location. There was also an ice spike and footprints, said Sgt. Gerry Tiffany, spokesman for the Hood River County Sheriff's Office.
Searchers dug through the cave, about 300 feet below the summit, to ensure no one was there and took the equipment, which will be examined for clues.
Weather conditions have been harsh since the three were reporting missing eight days ago, with heavy snow fall and wind gusts of up to 100 mph. The snow stopped Saturday, but wind up to 50 mph blew the fresh snow, hampering visibility. Skies were blue Sunday, the wind was still, and temperatures at the 11,239-foot summit were reported near zero degrees.
There has been no communication from Kelly James, 48, of Dallas, 37-year-old Brian Hall of Dallas, or 36-year-old Jerry "Nikko" Cooke of New York City since Dec. 10, when James used his cell phone to call his family. He told them he was sheltering in a snow cave while his companions started back down the mountain, apparently to get help for him.
The last clue to their whereabouts was a brief signal returned from James' cell phone Tuesday.
It is not yet known how the body will be brought down from the mountain.
It is not yet known how the body will be brought down from the mountain.
Note to JOSEPH B. FRAZIER Associated Press Writer, from earlier in your article...
A Chinook helicopter lifted the body from the 11,239-foot mountain and took it to Hood River, said Karl Tesch, another spokesman for the sheriff's office.
Some thirty years ago I experienced hypothermia... I had gotten wet in subzero weather -- long story short - here's part of that experience: At one point I noticed my coat had smoke coming up from it. I thought, "that's odd -- my coat doesn't usually smoke." It was a complete thought. There wasn't any panic or emotional reaction or anything. Just that my coat doesn't usually smoke.
I stood there and looked at the smoke and thought it was kind of interesting the way the smoke was moving. More time went by and I thought, "I'm on fire". There was no great emotional reaction to that - just a detached thought. Maybe 10 seconds later it dawned on me I had put a cigarette in my pocket - lit. My thinking was in slow motion - a part of me knew I should do something - but it took me a long time to figure out what do. After much mental effort I reached into my pocket, took the lit cigarette out, and patted out the fire. I was calm and mildly amused. My brain was shutting down - it was something like being drunk, but sweeter - and happier. I'm not surprised these men made irrational choices. My prayers are with them and their families.