US News
Mountain climber found dead after days-long search
Dec 18, 2006, 3:16 GMT
Washington - The body of a missing mountain climber was found atop Mount Hood in the US state of Oregon on Sunday, after a group of climbers disappeared 10 days ago.
Three skilled climbers went missing on the 3,425-metre-high mountain and harsh weather conditions, including high winds and snow, on the state's tallest peak have hindered rescue efforts.
Dramatic images of the snow-covered mountain and of dozens of rescue workers and helicopters searching for the men have filled US television.
The unidentified fatality was discovered after rescuers found a snow cave that appeared to have sheltered one or more of the climbers. It contained climbing supplies and a sleeping bag, but no people.
Later in the day, rescuers found another cave with the body of one man.
Authorities said they would continue to search for the two other mountain climbers.
'The searchers are putting their hearts and soul into this,' said Mike Brainish, a spokesman for the Oregon National Guard, which was participating in the rescue effort. 'We remain optimistic, we remain hopeful.'
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
If you're an experienced forum poster, why didn't you use the spell-check?
They probably thought it was an easy climb and got caught.Plus they were from Texas where the population is not known for intelligence.
wish god give mercy on them.
Bunch of complete idiots climbing Mount Hood in Mid-December! All the wasted resources and more risks for the rescuer's lives trying to compensate for these Darwin Award nominees...Dang!
I don't have any climbing experience but wouldn't carrying a small can of spray paint (or something that can be sprayed on snow in case of emergency) make sense?
God bless them --
Gee, a winter storm in December... who'd a thought? Obviously VERY experienced climbers....
There is no God, Lets hope the other two are alive and will be found soon
What an insensitive comment!!
Tragic. Even the most experienced climbers run into bad situations. How many people have died on Mt. Everest? My condolences to the family as well as my prayers for the safe return of the two still missing!
What an insensitive comment!! (referring to the comment on the intelligenc of folks from Texas)
These guys didn't use the best judgement, but I hope they are found soon.
The North face of Mt Hood in December is the draw for these guys. The same as any extreme spoort, they are taking risks way beyond what 'normal' climbers take. The are the top 1/2% or higher atheletes, think of Jordan, Schumacker or Beckham. Its just that their sport is completely unforgiving.
Hard to understand for sure.
J
It is a well known fact that Texans are very full of themselves. This likely led to their deaths. If you note, they found tracks going up the mountain indicating the 2 other dudes abandoned their dead friend so they could summit. Darwin alwayss wins in Texas.
At least they had Texas size balls and took the risk, which is more than I can say for you....and then you have the nerve to put them down because of where they are from.
Hey - everyone leaving comments that aren't optimistic or that are criticizing...these are peoples LIVES we are talking about. They have families and children. And furthermore, I personally KNOW Kelly and Karen James - as I have my entire life.
So keep your 'well looks like they messed up, idiots' comments off.
Thanks
Well, since you know them...Please thank them for carelessly and selfishly risking other's lives for their own interests. Really, it is a sad situation but these guys have jeopardized others, too. Just the facts.
When you are 300' below the summit and the easiest decent w/ the closest shelter is just on the other side, it might be the best decision to make.
Anyone who wants to repeatedly stereotype Texans needs to get out more. There is a world of excitement to be experienced if you can manage an open mind and leave judgement off your agenda.
: )
J
robert friz Dec 18th, 2006 - 04:10:35
It is a well known fact that Texans are very full of themselves. This likely led to their deaths. If you note, they found tracks going up the mountain indicating the 2 other dudes abandoned their dead friend so they could summit. Darwin alwayss wins in Texas.
YET ANOTHER BIGOTED COMMENT AGAINST TEXANS...
I hope these climbers make it home, and that the BIGOTS posting rude comments remember that this is Christmas time. It's not a time for mean-spirited remarks. It's a time for family and remembrance.
My condolences to the family as well as my prayers for the safe return of the two still missing.
texans should stay home. Clearly they have no ability in the back country ...climbing Hood in December, going for the North route, not checking the weather. Thanks to their carelessness, many more lives are put at risk. The climbers family should be sued for every penny they have.
i can't believe all the callous comments...
if it was your husband, brother, father up there, you would do the anything and everything to try and rescue them. no one is forcing anyone to risk their own lives to save these guys.. why do you think they waited until the weather improved?
Who pays the bill for this?
I know of nobody who has not needed help sometime. It could be something as simple as having a set of jumper cables, but other times it can be more serious such as a hurricane and flooding, etc. I hope that folks who seem unable to appreciate the fact that a helping hand is often needed at meet someone more compassionate and truly human than themselves when their time of need arises... and it will.
your taxes pay for this probably
I can't believe what I have been reading! I think we all have had moments of bad judgement, but what difference does it make where these people came from? How do you know what kind of experience they had? I feel deeply sorry for the families of these climbers and hope for the safe return of the two still missing. Can you imagine how their families must feel at this time of year? 7 days before Christmas?
Please, have a little sympathy....
every experienced climber comes to realize that the heart of their sport comes from their coming to grips with their own mortality. that is why climbing is the ultimate sport; because death is the ultimate price. non-climbers cannot understand the freedom given to climbers when they practice their sport. on the mountain, when you accept death fully, you are given full freedom. and all this depends solely upon the boldness of your spirit. pure freedom is given to pure spirit. no drugs or excuses, money or fame or sex, and it should be respected. we all die a little every day and on one day we die the rest of the way. this is a tragedy for their families & friends because they will be in pain for a long time, but if you think that climbing mountains is stupid, you don't know what it means to be alive. you are a child and you are wasting your life.
Well they knew the risks, I feel bad, but the probably thought they were immune. They put their lives into their own hands. I hope they had life insurance. What irks me is didn't they care how their loved ones would feel is they were gone.
THERE IS A DEVICE AVAILABLE TO ALL ALPINE ADVENTURERS...IT'S CALLED AN MLU (MOUNTAIN LOCATOR UNIT)...MUCH LIKE AN AIRPLANE LOCATOR BEACON OR A MARINE EPRIB, IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY IT LEADS RESCUERS TO THE LOCATION OF THE DISTRESSED CLIMBER...THE THREE CLIMBERS OPTED NOT TO RENT THESE MLU'S BECAUSE THEY WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THE 'SPIRIT' OF THEIR CLIMB...OBVIOUSLY A FATAL MISTAKE, BUT MOUNTAINEERS WHO FOLLOW ARE WELL ADVISED TO RENT THE LOCATORS TO SAVE THEIR LIVES AND THE HORRENDOUS EXPENSE (MANPOWER, EQUIPMENT AND STRESS ON FAMILIES) WOULD BE LESSENED AND/OR NEGATED...OUR PRAYERS AND WISHES FOR THE REMAINING SURVIVORS ARE OFFERED...MT HOOD HAS PROVEN TO BE A KILLER IN THE PAST AND DEMANDS THE ULTIMATE OF RESPECT...
Does the weather change, even in one day?
Wow, some of you are cold-heartless son of a bit-ches. I hope some of you guys burn in hell.
The percentage of Human beings who are willing to push themselves to explore and experience the extremes of our planet is a very small number. Before posting your cynical judgements, and your crass evaluations of what these climbers 'should or shouldn't' have done, close your collective mouths and your typing fingers.
These men were not hiding behind their monitors and keyboards, wondering what life is really about. They were out in the real world, in the most dangerous parts of the real world; not asking what's out there, but experiencing this planet in the most difficult and challenging environments.
Their experience is deserving of much more than your ignorant musings, and your self-appreciative sense of so-called humor.
These men LIVE a life that you can only imagine in your cozy little computer room. Have some respect for those who are greater than yourselves, and have some compassion for the other human beings who must cope with this loss.
If they did make a mistake, wishing death on them is an awfully wonderful way to show that you're a much better human being then they.
Right now there are wives and children that are going through hell waiting this out, and, if the climbers are still alive, they have been through more then most people could put up with in staying alive.
May God bless them and bring them home safe.
Ahhhh Milford, solving the worlds problems with lawsuits.
Money is being spent, thats true. The people on the search are Local experts, Top climbers that have flown in from around the country and Military specialists. They all have one thing in common. Their lifes work is to train and climb and be there when lives are at stake. They are demonstrating their abilities and commitment to their profession, out there right now, and they are doing what they love.
The world would be a very boring place without people pushing the limits of the human spirit. I don't personally know the families of the climbers and rescue teams. I do know that humans have only survived this long because we have people that can do the near impossible at all costs.
J
Oh yeah, good argument. They need to conquer the wilds of the planet. Well their selfish and egotistical pursuit just happened to put hundreds of other lives at risk when they screwed up. You can also safely say they are costing the taxpayer millions for their ineptitude. I agree the families of these climbers should be sued to dissuade their other Texan buddies from attempting similar stupid acts. They should make these guys post a bond of like 75,000 each before they climb Hood. That may keep idiots like these guys away.
LOL...I don't live a cowardly life behind my keyboard. But I do not put other's lives at risk with my careless vanity. I hope the other 2 are safe and found alive...I also hope other's learn from their folly.
These are men, not little boys. They knew the risk/reward and chose to place their wives, family, and selves in jeopardy. Selfish. Sad...but selfish.
Think a little larger for yourself, OK?
Not carrying a beacon when climbing the North slope of Hood in December argues against the characterization of these men as 'experienced.' Living in Portland I can say that they are lucky that the weather delay in getting above 8,500 feet was only six days. I am not kidding when I say I have seen periods like 40 days where you could not go above 8,500. They obvioulsy did not appreciate what they were trying to do.
To those of you with callous and vicious comments toward the climbers and toward Texans in general at a time like this--you have no heart and no soul. May God have mercy on you. Actually, scratch that, I hope you burn in Hell.
Hey Rebbecca, sorry to ruin your burning festival, but there is no Hell. There is no Santa or Easter Bunny either!
Another dumb Texan...instead of climbing to the summit, they should have brought the injured climber to a lower elevation that would have made the rescue much more easy. After bringing him down to a lower elevation they should have called 911 from the cell phone immediately and give them their exact whereabouts. Also, they should have stuck together at that lower elevation. Survival becomes easier and signalling and finding them becomes easier too. Here, the search effort becomes so much divided becuase you have three climbers in possibly three different locations. The trio teenage climbers who were rescued from Mt. Hood in the 70's after thirteen days, remained together in the cave sharing food and the Bible!
Do any of you people have lives? I rarely read junk like your comments, but this bunch has been so nasty I had to say you folks are truly sad. I don't suppose any of you believe in karma. Your loss.
Guess what, Jimbo? I'm not religious. I was expressing a sentiment here, and I think you get my gist. Since I'm prevented from using the expletives I'd like to use, I chose 'burn in hell' as a metaphor. I'd actually prefer to say, 'go you-know-what yourself.'
So now only mountian climbers experience life? Interesting. Tax dollars are paying for this rescue and no small number of them from the looks of things. I expect the total will be in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. It's your money (most of you). Those C-130's don't come cheap. It's not that I am not sympathetic for the families, but these guys put themselves in harms way, knowing full well a bunch of people are going to come rushing to find them if they get in trouble. ''To heck with everybody else, this is a rush!!!' That's quite selfish from my point of view. And many of the searchers are not volunteers, This is their job.
I imagine if this rescue were successful these guys could be looking at book deals, movies of the week, product endorsements and other such related compensation. If they die I don't think it would be unreasonable to send the bills to their estates. To the families I say what the cops say when they come to your door to tell you one of your leved ones has been killed; 'I'm very sorry for your loss'.
Expert mountain climber dies on Mt. Hood. When you are out in nature against the elements you're playing under Mother Nature's rules and there is no level of expertiece that can guarantee your safety. Experts perish all the time because they underestimate the danger and overestimate their skill. Kinda ironic like the story the other week when a tech gadget ethusiast died for lack of a GPS.
Why dont they just close the mountain in winter months especially around the holiday season?? If roads can be closed in winter then why not mountains?? These climbers are a financial liability on the public system and if they trespass on the mountain in December or winter months, the liability should be void. If anything happens, they can hire private search and rescue at their own expense. I dont think they would be able to afford that. Then I dont think it is financially viable for the climbers to climb the mountain at all.
It would be really scary if they dont pass trespassing laws. The internet and blogs and collaborative wikis have stared giving people lot of ideas. Information sharing is at its peak now. These ideas that people get from the blogs, is what dreams are made of. Texans are not in any way behind. This year there were just a couple of them. But next December it could be a flood of Texan climbers attempting Mt. Hood on Christmas eve, for their share of publicity and a book deal! The gates should be closed NOW!
for clarification:
any experienced climber most likely belongs to the AAC (American Alpine Club) whose membership includes a group insurance policy to safeguard against the financial burden of such accidents.
so don't worry, your precious tax dollars can still go to killing brown people in iraq
Experience in any undertaking is no guarantee of good judgement. Their misguided decision to climb an 11,000' mountain in winter smacks of arrogance born of an overestimation of ability. In a harsh winter weather vs. 'we can do this' climber attitude contest, nature is going to win every time. Some people just don't get it. You take your chances when you pull a stupid stunt like this. Sorry about your luck, but.....
Climbing – on mountain or rock wall - is a calculated risk. For serious climbers, it is a game wherein the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Good climbers mitigate the risk with ability, experience and knowledge. This includes judgement, in this case regarding weather and equipment (e.g., MLU, GPS). It sounds like these guys were in over their heads.... a tragic miscalculation.
Well, honestly, I'm glad that you brought Karma up...Now let's try to figure out why these men have gained such bad Karma that they're lost on the mountain.
Right? I mean if you believe that stuff...
So many people dying.... Sigh
Re Ratatat's post: I did not read all 5 pages, as I do have a life, but his comments were the most reasoned that I read.
The my-so-called-life award goes to SpellChecker (2nd post). Yes, many of us are bothered by sloppy, semi-literate comments, but that looked like a simple typo to me. We are not all Mavis Beacon (Google it). And where exactly IS the spell check button ot this page? Or are you so anal you drag your text into another application/web page to check it? ;)
Mt. Hood is a deceptively easy climb. It is not techically difficult - I have climbed it - but that is part of the danger. It can lull people into a false sense of security. Weather changes near the summit almost instantaneously with whiteout conditions seemingly coming out of nowhere after bright sunny skies. Many people have died on the mountain after being caught in such circumstances and I am sure this fatality won't be the last.
No God? Prove it!
Before posting your comment, why didn't you use braincheck?
They were people you uncompassionate hopeless asses! The whole point of climbing Mt. Hood in December is to see if you can handle the elements. Apparently, they couldn't. Granted. But they have families who love them. This is Christmas. Find some compassion in yourselves for a few human beings who left behind people that loved them.
These men have perished due to their Texas-sized egos. Climbing Hood in December is a fools folly. These foolish Texan flat landers failed to check the weather, did not spend 5 dollars to rent a MLU and clearly were inexperienced climbers. Their families should be fully responsible for the cost of their rescue. Let this be a warning to their other Texas friends to stay home and watch football. Darwin has weeded out the weak and foolish once again.
This attitude to see if you can handle the elements is not right. By this theory one is suggesting and proposing that if the climbers had handled the elements successfully and come out alive in the middle of December from Mt. Hood theyd be some kind of Texan kings. This behavior is very misguided to say the least. Human beings can NEVER stand a chance in the face and fury of Mother nature. The elements will consume you if your ego grows too stong. This is what exactly happened with the climbers. One of them probably broke his arm just trying to dig a cave in the snow. I tell all Texas cowboys to do what they do best - sit home, chill a beer, and watch football.
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brian birchallDec 18th, 2006 - 03:51:33
If these climbers were experienced, why did'nt they check the weather before their climb?
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