3:08 PM Sun, Dec 17, 2006 | Permalink
Teresa Bell
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The following is a blog from climbing expert Joe Whittington, who climbed Mount Hood for the first time in 1978 and has continued to summit Oregon's tallest peak every year since, in addition to leading countless climbs across the globe, through his Portland-based company, Oregon Peak Adventures:
It is a major dissappointment that the searchers found an empty snow cave. Typically the last piece of gear an alpine climber will leave behind is their ice axe. It is what keeps you attached to the mountain and would be used to arrest a fall if you slip. I can only specualte as to what this means. When people bcome hypothermic, their judgement becomes impaired and we have no idea at what level they are functioning.
The climbers appear to be well equipted and experienced, but , unfortunately do not have the most helpful piece of equipment that is unique to Mt. Hood. That is the Mountain Locator Unit. So the searchers have a lot of territory to cover to try to locate the climbers at this time. Questions are: where are they, what equipment do they still have, what is ther physical and mental condition, what would they likely do?
There's just about an hour of light left and the search teams have scoured the mountain from the air pretty throughly, so it is possible that the climbers have either dug another snow cave or are down in the snow and are not visible. The clear skies means that it will be very cold and accelerate the heat loss due to radiation.
It's anyone's guess at this point. I wish them well.
My heart goes out to the family of the dead climber they found. This is very sad. A friend and a co worker of mine lost his life on MT.WHITNEY IN AUGUST OF 1998. MAYBE YOU CAN POST HIS STORY TOO. I CANNOT FIND IT ON THE WEB ANYMORE. IT WAS A SAD AND TRAGIC ACCIDENT AFTER THE 3 OF THEM HAD REACHED THE SUMMIT THAT DAY. HE LOST HIS BALANCE AFTER PICKING THE ICE TO SET ANOTHER ROPE ANCHOR. SLID DOWN THE ICE AND WENT OVER A WATERFALL 1500 FEET TO HIS DEATH. IT WAS VERY SAD.
I hope they find the other two together and they are still alive. After this it does not look good. I will continue to pray for them.
Bless these families. All of them.
I read they found tracks to the summit. If I were them I would have done the same and headed to Timberline lodge. Unfortunatly we all know that you can miss the rout to the (climbers) left. That would lead them into the Sandy river drainage or that direction. This is where they will find them if they are still OK. Deep snow could have prevented their movement.
Who is paying for this massive effort.
Federal, state, or local government -- of course ultimately the taxpayer.
Any way to recover the costs?
I am curious as to why the climbers did not have any tracking devices with them? My heart goes out to the families and the climber's friends.
I think the use of the rescue transponders should be a state law and enforced. If you have to be rescued without one a fine or jail time should await you at the bottom. I want them to be found and the expense must be great times how many rescues each year. Is it ego that makes them think that they don't have to use one?
Having climbed many moutains in the last twenty years, two mistakes are glaring. One, choosing a route without the company of someone who had climbed the mountain and that route previously and two, climbing in deteriorating weather conditions. I'm afraid their confidence go in the way of their good judgement. My condolences
to their families.
This incident makes me really, really, really mad. What a stupid endeavour - mountain climbing. In this day & age, what the heck does anyone need to risk a life for SO needlessly. Who cares who climbs what! Now one. and possibly 3 families are left to deal with the hardship, trauma, lifelong sorrow of losing loved ones so needlessly!
DON'T CLIMB MOUNTAINS FOR NOTHING!!!!!!!!!