Rescue Teams To Tackle Mt. Hood Summit

Search For Missing Climbers Continues

(AP)  Search teams headed for the summit of Mount Hood on Sunday, hoping to find the snow cave where one of three missing climbers made a distress call a week ago.

Searchers got close to the 11,239-foot summit Saturday, reaching 10,600 feet before nightfall and worsening conditions forced them off the mountain. With the weather colder but clearer Sunday, they set out again from 6,000 feet and planned to make it to the top, Hood River County Sheriff Joe Wampler said. They hope make it to the summit and climb over to the steep north side

Teams had to descend yesterday about 600 feet short of the summit because of deep snow, weather and darkness.

Crews expected to make better time in their ascent thanks to a path they beat in the snow Saturday, sheriff's Sgt. Gerry Tiffany said.

The teams on the mountain were to be joined for a third day by a Nevada Air National Guard C-130 cargo plane equipped with infrared heat sensors that could detect a person against the cold backdrop of snow.

There has been no communication from Kelly James, 48, and 37-year-old Brian Hall, both of Dallas, Texas, or 36-year-old Jerry "Nikko" Cooke of New York City since Dec. 10, when James used his cell phone to call his family. He told them he was sheltering in a snow cave while his companions started back down the mountain, apparently to get help for him.

The last clue to their whereabouts was a brief signal returned from James' cell phone Tuesday.

On Saturday, the cold hobbled rescue efforts as some searchers had to come down because of facial frostbite.

However, that cold was accompanied by a temporary break in weeklong stormy conditions, paving the way for the biggest push yet since the three men were reported missing on what was to have been a quick climb to the peak.

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Photos: Search For Oregon Climbers

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Wampler said Saturday that the odds of finding the three alive would improve if they kept the sleeping bags they had said they were taking with them. Some climbers stash gear to lighten their load as they climb, picking it up on the way back down, but Wampler said no stashes had been found.

At a news conference earlier Saturday, the mothers of the three climbers choked back tears as they expressed hope their sons would be found.

"I want the mountain to release our sons," said Cooke's mother, Maria Kim. "The mountain has no right to keep our sons."

[rogerm2--2008]

I am a 73 year old former climber. The first thing my Austrian born mentor taught me was, "there are old climbers and their are bold climbers, but there are no old, bold climbers."

Over the years I climbed Mt. Baker, Rainier (12 summits, last time at age 60) Adams, Glacier Pk., Shasta, Garibaldi and many B.C. and Washington smaller peaks. Weather is always the MOST important factor when climbing above treeline, and absolutely critical when going above 10,000 ft.

It appears that these three men were experienced, but they took an huge risk in deciding to "make a run for it" in advance of an approaching storm. I know what is is like to plan a climb and then cancel or turn back. I recall turning back at Camp Muir at least 3 times due to whiteouts, raging winds, or avalanche danger. We figured that we could always come back and try again.

But then that's why I'm an old climber, I guess.

My heart goes out to the climbers and their families and hope with all my heart that the search efforts will end with success.

[hissteps4u]

My Heart also goes out to them and the chances that this is a body recovery is greater with every minute.

I had heard that this was not the fist time these three climbers had had rescue efforts made on their behalf. They seem to take risks which their lives may cash in on this time around.

If they are found alive which is unlikely at this point they need to be handed a 2 Million dollar Bill for services rendered perhaps they would think twice about rash judgements which they seem to be prone to as a group of climbers.

Living n the North wet this is an all to frequent occurance every year climbers and hikers and simple folks get lost or loose their way in the montain wilderness and die. Some are found mostly dead, others found after the summer melt.

I feel for the families which are affected both those whoi are in Peril and those who are placeing themselves in Peril to rescue them in what seems to be a more and more wain effort.

[tibu987]

My wish is that no research people or equipment is lost searching for these guys.
What they chose to do, considering that they were supposedly eperienced, was to challenge the mountain in spite of high risks. They lost.
The families should be responsible for all expenses including any harm that may come to the searchers.
I'm sorry, but I cannot feel too much sadness here. There are too many things going on in the world that require my regrets. 3,000 children die EVERY DAY in Africa from disease and hunger.
The attention this matter, the climbers, gets is an indication of how not aware or uncaring Americans are for other people in the world.

[ammaray-2009]

I have lived in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon for many years. I don't even wander from my house to split firewood in the wintertime without a PLB (personal locator beacon). Granted, PLBs are a bit expensive, but I'd be willing to bet their designer long underwear cost more. What were those "experienced mountaineers" thinking? Our search teams are exhausted and endangering themselves. It is time to hang it up and just as it goes in every year, we'll find them next summer--maybe.

[cdegolier]

These costly rescues are not always already funded by some giant rescue fund given by the tax payers. A lot of smaller towns and cities are finding it increasely difficult to pay for these rescues that is why the issue of liability and the rescuee paying the bill for their own rescue is presently on the table.

If I were in a car accident and needed an ambulance the kind taxpayers are not going to pay for that ride, I am.

I believe people are becoming sick and tired of the raising taxes and the burden of costly rescues falling on their backs when the money could be better spent elsewhere. Instead of paying for extremist to get their thrill.

Being from Minneasota this happening numerous times every year. Not from climbing mountains but from people going out on the ice and falling through. The ice is checked and it is posted where or not it is safe to go out on, but every year people disobey the signs and end up under the ice.

It is hard to continue to pay for foolish people who lack any common sense whether they choose to climb a dangerous mountain in the middle of winter or drive out on the ice. They are idiots and why shouldn't they or their families pay for their foolishness.

[dracorliss]

To the search and rescue teams and all of the recovery efforts:

Prayer to Saint Bernard
Remembering St. Bernard Parish After Katrina

Saint Bernard, you were a mountaineer
You climbed the heights of danger to help and comfort those in need
You searched for and rescued those endangered by severe weather
You saved the lives of those far away from home
When you were lost in blizzards
Your magnificent dogs showed you the way

Pray for us now
Pray for those who experience storms, floods and earthquakes
Pray for the animals who are lost, stranded or in trouble of any kind
Pray for your fellow search and rescue teams
That they may have enough strength of body and heart
To provide safety and comfort to others
May you and your dogs
Guide us across the frozen, slippery, passageways of loss and grief
Through the fatal drifts of denial, anger and blame
To a spring of tears, healing and acceptance
Grant us the love and peace that we find in the eyes of a Saint Bernard Dog
May you and your dogs comfort and strengthen us now and always.

Copyright 2005 Amanda Oden Corliss, DVM

[dracorliss]

To the search and rescue teams and all of the recovery efforts:

Prayer to Saint Bernard
Remembering St. Bernard Parish After Katrina

Saint Bernard, you were a mountaineer
You climbed the heights of danger to help and comfort those in need
You searched for and rescued those endangered by severe weather
You saved the lives of those far away from home
When you were lost in blizzards
Your magnificent dogs showed you the way

Pray for us now
Pray for those who experience storms, floods and earthquakes
Pray for the animals who are lost, stranded or in trouble of any kind
Pray for your fellow search and rescue teams
That they may have enough strength of body and heart
To provide safety and comfort to others
May you and your dogs
Guide us across the frozen, slippery, passageways of loss and grief
Through the fatal drifts of denial, anger and blame
To a spring of tears, healing and acceptance
Grant us the love and peace that we find in the eyes of a Saint Bernard Dog
May you and your dogs comfort and strengthen us now and always.

Copyright 2005 Amanda Oden Corliss, DVM

[dracorliss]

To the search and rescue teams and all of the recovery efforts:

Prayer to Saint Bernard
Remembering St. Bernard Parish After Katrina

Saint Bernard, you were a mountaineer
You climbed the heights of danger to help and comfort those in need
You searched for and rescued those endangered by severe weather
You saved the lives of those far away from home
When you were lost in blizzards
Your magnificent dogs showed you the way

Pray for us now
Pray for those who experience storms, floods and earthquakes
Pray for the animals who are lost, stranded or in trouble of any kind
Pray for your fellow search and rescue teams
That they may have enough strength of body and heart
To provide safety and comfort to others
May you and your dogs
Guide us across the frozen, slippery, passageways of loss and grief
Through the fatal drifts of denial, anger and blame
To a spring of tears, healing and acceptance
Grant us the love and peace that we find in the eyes of a Saint Bernard Dog
May you and your dogs comfort and strengthen us now and always.

Copyright 2005 Amanda Oden Corliss, DVM