ok world forum members what are you hearing about the latest rescue attempts on 3 stupid climbers on my Mountain ~ Mt. Hood ? I lived there in the 70's an guided on the mnt, the most climbed mountain the world exclusive of Japans Fuji. Yearly we have at least 6 deaths attributed to various causes, at this time of year...........yeah you guessed it the same thing that James Kim succumbed to ~ cold, exposure and hypothermia and starvation these 3 guys are in for a world of hurt if they are still alive, 1 called yesterday asking someone to save his butt. The storms are so bad right now, this I know first hand the cloud deck is at base level so nobody can see even 5 feet away and the crap weather is suppose to continue till Sunday late. good luck guys and hope you have supplies and liquid. No clue why folk do not pay attention to weather forecasts and fronts, they were trying the coveted start at cooper spur north side climb to the summit and descend down the south slopes to Timberline Lodge. Compass bearings are off on this thing due to the nature of the territory-moraines and the glaciers, and right now they have a good chance of getting the bullet if they try to descend down one of the snow covered ridges, getting off track falling 100 or more feet and getting sucked into an avalanche ......... suck happy news
Whoever is in charge has no concern for security. Federal funds should be obtained for a proper escalator to the top.
I have not heard anything more than what you have presented Erich other than they are experienced climbers and did leave specific details of the route they were taking and they did plot where the call was made from so they have an idea of where they may be. http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/13/missing.climbers.ap/index.html
Freezing rain reported last night and this morn before it warms up and then the temps are going to drop over the whole state like a bomb does not look good for them. the guys cell phone is still sparked up but no responses one way or the other ........ I can easily draw up conclusions but will not .......
People don't understand the mountains, they believe it's just a walk in the park. They just don't realise that even the slightest incident, like a fast weather change (usual in mountains) or a bruised ankle, can endanger your life. One day in the alps, I saw a family going for a big afternoon walk at ice height (I don't know the word, it's places where big volumes of ice cover the mountain surface). They were wearing tennis shoes, had no map, no idea about weather, no supplies, nothing. I asked them to give me their money, jewelry and watches, because they would not need them anymore
the word you are looking for is Glacier small drones with heat seeking devices are suppose to be ready and able to possibly find a heat image in the peak. One guy the most experienced is stuck probably injured at 10,000 feet on the north side, his 2 buddies are somewhere on the south side trying to get to Timberline Lodge, if they are even together. this whole thing is confused via the media as the reports that come in never agree with each other. this was from last night and the weather was going to continue to drop in quality. As far as I know none of the three had ever climbed Mt. Hood which although a Glaciated peak has it's own personality
true Stefan. A glacier is permanent ice although flowing at a rate we cannot see, and they do drop out of their valleys to be no-more from time to time in summer. There are also permanent snowfields as well, not glaciers; we have both in the Northwest. many times very hard to distinguish between the two unless you can visibly see the cracks-crevasses and the upper Bergschrund which indicates an active Glacier
Cheers Erich, always found glaciers interesting because of the frozen bodies they find preserved in them (Otzi the ice man and so on). I guess this recent disappearance is nothing new, they always happen.
the % of guys/gals making it through on Mt. Hood in winter and having never climbed the peak before always remain slim......... the stats are pretty ugly from over the years. Easy access from both roads north and south even in winter make the peak an easy grabber and bringing on folk that are totally nieve of what could happen up high
