3 on Mt Hood??

[widgeon13]

This doesn't sound like it was very well organized from the get-go. Traveling with minimal equipment supposedly. Hope it doesn't go from rescue to recovery.

3 climbers missing on Mt. Hood
Weather forces rescue teams to suspend search

By Brad Cain, Associated Press | December 12, 2006

COOPER SPUR, Ore. -- Rescue teams headed up the flanks of treacherous Mount Hood yesterday to search for three climbers reported missing in heavy snow but were ordered off the mountain when conditions became too dangerous.
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Officials described the three men as experienced but said none had climbed Mount Hood before.

The mother of Kelly James, 48, of Dallas, told authorities he had called his son on a cellphone Sunday to say he was stranded in a snow cave just below the summit of the 11,239-foot peak and his companions had gone for help.

"From the conversation, it left us very concerned for the person's welfare," Hood River County Chief Deputy Jerry Brown said.

Rescuers were unable to reestablish cellphone contact with James, and there was no sign of the other men, identified as Brian Hall, 37, of Dallas, and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke, 36, of New York.

Snow was falling heavily yesterday at a lodge where the three men were supposed to meet friends on Friday or Saturday. Up to 18 inches of snow was expected through today, along with wind gusts of up to 55 miles per hour that will reduce visibility and raise the risk of avalanches.

The Oregon Air National Guard said the weather was too dangerous to attempt a rescue by helicopter, but one was on standby in case the weather improved.

The seven three-member rescue teams encountered wind gusts of 80 miles per hour and blowing snow, Deputy Marc Smith said. They didn't get higher than 8,500 feet.

"They're going to regroup, wait for a break in the weather and then go back up on the mountain," Smith said.

About 10,000 people a year start for the summit, and on average 20 to 25 have to be rescued.

The three men left their car Wednesday to climb the difficult north side of Mount Hood, Oregon's tallest peak.

They had planned to spend two nights on the mountain.

The route the climbers took is very difficult, with slopes of 50 or 60 degrees and occasional sheer walls of ice, said Steve Rollins, a rescue leader with Portland Mountain Rescue, which sent two teams up the mountain.

Rollins said conditions were deadly, with hard ice, high winds, and heavy snow.

"There is no easy way off the mountain," he said.

A note that the missing climbers left at a Forest Service station said they were taking "minimal gear," Doug Jones, a permit specialist with the Mount Hood National Forest, told The Oregonian newspaper.

It was the second time in less than a month that someone was reported missing in snowy, isolated areas of Oregon.

James Kim of San Francisco died of exposure after leaving his wife and their two small daughters in their snowbound car while he struck out on his own in search of help. His wife and children were rescued.
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

[widebody911]

Why do people keep doing stoopid shit like this?

[artplumber]

Happens all the time when people intentionally go into high risk areas (prepared or not). Don't know if you guys remember the video with the helicopter trying to hover over an extraction on a mountain, and then crashes into the mountain? That was also Hood a few years ago. IIRC a number of deaths on the chopper.

[widebody911]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=y8gKmEhP2fk

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fhfJDq_I1HA

[widgeon13]

None of them had experience on MT Hood and only one was from the area, I can understand wanting to participate in the challenge but these things seem to boil down to putting rescuers in danger when things get off track. I was aware of the helicopter rescue attempt a year or so ago, which had very unfortunate results. I can't understand what motivates these people to take unnecessary risk as well as jeopardize the lives of others in the process. Obviously, it does not start out with that intent but it seems too common these days.

I have some experience in search/rescue in upstate NY and it's always amazing when you find someone how poorly prepared they are, they have no concept of worst case scenario.

I met Kelly James a couple of years ago at a party. Seemed like a great, well balanced guy. He talked about having built a climbing wall on an outside wall of his house. Beautiful wife and kids. Prayers to him and his companions and family.

[widgeon13]

My wife's stepsister has done a number world class climbs, she was on her way to Pakistan a few years ago for an expedition and dropped her last will and testement off to my wife, she was the only woman in the group of eleven climbers and 200+ sherpas.

I like a nice sunny day at the track and clean sheets at night, thank you.

[thrown_hammer]

This isn’t happening more this year than any other year…it’s just that getting lost and dieing in the snow is the new “Killer Bees”, or “Shark Attacks”, or “Child Abductions”, or “Pandemic”……..

[ckissick]

Originally posted by thrown_hammer
This isn’t happening more this year than any other year…it’s just that getting lost and dieing in the snow is the new “Killer Bees”, or “Shark Attacks”, or “Child Abductions”, or “Pandemic”……..

Exactly right.

[VINMAN]

As climbing becomes more and more the "trendy" thing to do, we will see alot more of this.

[Porsche virgin]

I believe that people who do dangerous ***** like this should be made to sign a waiver saying that they understand the risk they are taking, and nobody is going to come to their rescue if they get hurt/lost/whatever.

We risk dozens of lives because these one or two people try to be adventurous.

Sorry. Rant over.

[on-ramp]

over-confidence kills.

[Flatbutt1]

As a younger man I was into winter mountaineering big time. Not technical climbing mind you , often difficult walking up some steep slopes but not technical at all. The Adirondacks, Whites, Greens "Gunks were my playground.

Every year , without fail, I'd assist in extracting someone that came into the deep woods wearing jeans, not carrying emergency equipment or just plain ignorant of the dangers that exist in the winter wilderness. They just don't think that they can die 2 miles from their car.

Well these guys on Hood do seem experienced but perhaps just made some poor choices. I agree that they should accept the possibility of not being rescued, and I'd bet that if asked, they'd all agree.

[cbeers]

Agreed Flatbutt,

I have also done many winter climbs both on Shasta and Whitney and preparation is key. I have done light weight assaults and again, it's a balance of preparation and calculated risk.

The thing that gets me is did they not consult a weather report? I know when I did my trips I would be checking the live cam, weather reports, ranger reports etc. It's a very unforgiving place where things can happen quickly, but really it's no more dangerous than a lot of other sports.

I have been airlifted dirt biking and seen that happen many times over many years to other riders.

hell, even a football game can lead to serious injury..........


I hope they get out of this alive.

-Chris

[widebody911]

but really it's no more dangerous than a lot of other sports.

Except for the fact that you're n00 miles and x,000 vertical feet away from assistance.

I wonder how many people have died of exposure on the football field; well, maybe in Green Bay...

[azasadny]

Here's a beautiful Mt Hood picture with Porsche content!

[pwd72s]

Not looking good for this trio. Rescue choppers unable to fly in the white out blizzard conditions with high winds. Recuers return saying conditions are so bad they cannot see the snow they walk on. It's really nasty at the high elevations here when storm after storm is rolling in out of the Pacific, which is happening now. The real question is time...how long can one survive in a snow cave?

I also agree...a LOT of media hype here. All the local channels have reporters standing out in the parking lot of Timberline lodge, showing us that (D-OH!) it's snowing up there.

Edit: Predictions are for 60-70 mph winds here in the Willametter Valley tomorrow...100 or so on the coast. Atop Mt. Hood? 150 or so...with lots of rain at lower elevations, blizzard condition above the freezing level.

To repeat...not looking good for this trio.

[artplumber]

Originally posted by Flatbutt1
...

Well these guys on Hood do seem experienced but perhaps just made some poor choices. I agree that they should accept the possibility of not being rescued, and I'd bet that if asked, they'd all agree.

I agree. Seems like they had some forethought with the route description they left on car and in mail, but you can't always plan for an injury. The most likely to survive would be the injured guy in the ice cave IMO. The other two may have been caught out on a ridge etc and truly have zero protection.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally posted by pwd72s
The real question is time...how long can one survive in a snow cave?

A long time actually, IF an injury is not life threatening and they can make drinking water(which they should be able to). Remember if they are sheltered from the weather and aren't hypothermic, they can survive on water alone for weeks.

Which is why I always carried shelter, flares, and emergency supplies even on day hikes.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Flatbutt1
A long time actually, IF an injury is not life threatening and they can make drinking water(which they should be able to). Remember if they are sheltered from the weather and aren't hypothermic, they can survive on water alone for weeks.

Which is why I always carried shelter, flares, and emergency supplies even on day hikes.

Crossing fingers. Seems like Sunday is the next decent "rescue window", weather wise.