Posted on 12/18/2006 8:47:53 AM PST by george76
A missing climber found dead in a snow cave on Mount Hood was identified as a Dallas man who had placed a distress call to relatives a little more than a week ago, a person close to the family said Monday.
Searchers found the cave Sunday near the spot located by cell phone signals traced from Kelly James, who made a four-minute call to his family Dec. 10 just below the summit, said Jessica Nunez, a spokeswoman for the climber's family.
On Monday, a recovery team was expected to retrieve the body, which remained on the mountain over night because darkness made it too dangerous to retrieve. The search for two other climbers also was to resume on the treacherous north side of Oregon's highest mountain.
His body was found in a second snow cave near the first, about 300 feet below the summit. Rescuers found two ice axes, a sleeping bag or pad and rope in the first. It was not known if any gear was in the second cave.
Monday's search would center on possible descent routes on Eliot Glacier and Cooper Spur, relatively lower levels of the mountain, in case the other two got down that far...
"Eliot Glacier is real dangerous so we will do that by air only," Hughes said Monday. "It's a bad avalanche area with crevasses. There are still people in crevasses that have never been recovered."
Searchers dug through the first cave to ensure no one was there and took the equipment, which will be examined for clues. The second cave with the climber's body was found a short time later.
It was not immediately clear which cave was occupied first, or why or when the climber, or climbers, decided to move from it.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
My webtv can't use it. Thanks for the thought, though. Maybe you can TELL me something... By the way, what's the source of the map?
The first snow cave they found, which was empty except for some gear, seems to be the "second" cave chronologically speaking, meaning this is the second cave the 2 climbers dug and slept in. The second cave they found seems to be the "first" and larger cave that they built, which contained James' body.
I watched a bit of Nightline last night, and they said James seemed to have a shoulder injury. And that they found a camera on him, have looked at some of the pics, and they show the men lightly equipped for a fast ascent, wearing daypacks.
That's all the news I've heard so far.
I'm with you here. Very confusing. I thought James made the call from the FIRST cave or at least I thought that's what they said.
The map is from Oregon Live's web site.
It shows their ascent and summit, like the right side of a triangle. Then their decent, like the left side of a triangle. There is the "first" larger cave, where James was found, at the end of that line. Then footprints go to the right, like the bottom side of the triangle, and lead to the second smaller cave. Hope that makes sense!
ok, that makes more sense.
That seems to be correct, from the "first" cave that they made and where James was found. This "first" cave was the second cave they found. Confusing, eh?
Yes! But thanks for the explanation as NOW I get it!
But when they got to the very first cave they got to on rescue day 1, they said there was nobody in it, remember? Then said as it was about dark and they were going to quit, that they had found a man's body in a different cave? Are we together on remembering that, that way? I'm still back there trying to determine what they meant by what they said that very moment on that day. At that time they hadn't figured anything else out regarding the movements of the climbers. I'm still trying to nail THAT down.
Why were they climbing a 12,000' mountain in December?? I think that they were arrogant and got what they deserved. The families should be required to pay the entire cost of the rescue attempts. And this is not really a newsworthy item. Way overblown! RIP.
Looks like there's a news conference coming up. Check katu or kgw.
TX, it looks like AA's map supports my memory of the press conference yesterday. The 2nd cave, the one with the "Y" located from the helicopter was the first cave found.
It can get confusing when talking about 1st cave, 2nd cave vs 1st cave found, 2nd cave found.
The rescuers went after that 2nd cave because of the "Y" and found it first. Then they followed the footsteps back and kind of lucked into finding the 1st cave (second). That is where they found Mr. Kelly.
In regards to his condition, and the condition of the cell phone, I think he may have gotten wet, or started sweating. Once he passed, it wouldn't take long to freeze in those conditions.
Because winter is the only "safe" time to climb the north side, as in summer there are loose rocks. Not many of us know enough about mountaineering to judge. These were very experienced climbers. 'Nuf said.
I am very exhausted by Monday morning quarterbacks. And as they continue to show up, they get more hateful.
Thanks for the ping. It really doesn't look good for the other two. Given the conditions, their plan of rapid descent, lack of supplies because they were on the fast track, evidence left behind.
Why climb Mt. Hood this time of year? The snow is hard and firm rather than soft and mushy. Makes for good climbing for experienced climbers.
These guys were alpine climbing, I think - packing light with the gamble that they'd get up there and down quickly. They lost the gamble.
Hee hee...Yes, it's like saying, what idiots would go skiing in the winter, it's cold outside! You know, winter has always been my favorite season. I'd much rather deal with cold, snowy weather than hot, humid weather. Any day.
Please, just reread the last two short paragraphs of the article excerpt that began this very thread. You will see there a reference to what I'm stuck on. Also, as in my earlier post,the man who actually found the body was on NG I believe, last night, saying the cave where James's body was, was very shallow, just barely below the surface. And as I pointed out, his body was frozen solid. What kind of protection was that for somebody who had to stay behind because he needed help?? And did not the Sheriff say he believes James's cell call came from the cave with the equipment and that was well built? Help...
Funny, my son is like that. He almost gets depressed in the summer. Or if the clouds don't hang around long enough. I am the opposite, somewhat. I just like the sun, crave it, hot or cold weather. If a storm system hangs around much to long, I get antsy.
At least the heat here is not humid. That would drive me nuts too.
I can't help but wonder what those folks in New York are thinking as they have watched the coverage over several days of this search. If my memory serves me correctly, they themselves had to hire a helicopter to find their parents dead after many days just off the highway. The parents were not on a risky adventure driving to New York.
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