Climber's Widow Tells Her Story

Karen James Tells Katie Couric Her Husband Kelly 'Loved Life So Much'

(CBS)  Karen James knew her husband Kelly's passion was climbing. After all, he proposed to her atop Seattle's Mount Rainer.

She had good reason to hold on to hope. The 48-year-old landscape architect was a 25-year veteran mountaineer who had already successfully scaled some of the most treacherous summits in the world.

But on Sunday, 12 days after Kelly James and his two companions, Brian Hall and Jerry Cooke, began their hazardous trek up Mount Hood, his family's worst fears were realized.

Though an autopsy revealed no broken bones, officials have speculated some kind of injury led him to take refuge in the snow cave that would become his tomb. But James, a father of four children, chose not to tell his family about the gravity of his situation when he placed his last cell phone call to them on Dec. 10.

CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric sat down for an exclusive interview with Karen James.

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Karen James: It's the kind of a call that you would never want to receive. And so, we both were acting, and it was like there was nothing wrong. I could tell by his voice that he was in trouble. And I told him I just decorated the Christmas tree and that he needed to come home and see it. He said he would. And I told him I loved him. He told me he loved me. And I told him to stay warm and stay awake.

Katie Couric: He told you he was cold and only had a half an orange?

James: He told the boys that, that he was cold and he was wet and he was weak.

Couric: Karen, it was a week between that last cell phone conversation and when Kelly was found. I can't imagine what that week was like for you.

James: Every morning, the only thing I wanted to do was try to save my husband. And from the moment I woke up till the moment I went to bed, I would talk to him and tell him to hold on. It was all-consuming. But I'll tell you, the rescue workers, the Sheriff's Department, everybody up there, it was a family. It was in the worst of the worst we saw the best of the best.

Couric: Karen, when word came that they had found Kelly, what did they tell you?

James: The sheriff came in and he said, "I have bad news. We have a body and it's deceased. And we need to identify it." I said, "look for Kelly's ring." The rescue worker that came to see Frank, he found Kelly, he said that when he walked into the cave it was so peaceful, and so serene. And there was Kelly. He was lying on his side with his head on his pack like we've seen a million times when he's been camping. And he had taken off his right glove, and he folded every finger back except the signature ring and put it out. And he knew. He wanted to be identified, and he wanted to come home to us. And when we told the kids, they were so proud of him because he had, he was still thinking of us, to say "look who I am, and it's time to come home."

Couric: Is there any part of you that's angry that he did this?

James: I'm not angry. I'm really sad our journey is over, for a while. And I miss him terribly. But he loved life so much, and he taught me how to love. He taught me how to live. And I don't know how you can be angry at someone who loved their family, who loved God, and had so many friends and gave back so much more than he took.

Couric: Kelly had four children when you all got married. His kids range from 12 to 25, and Jack's just 12.

James: Kelly loved his kids more than life itself. The kids were everything to him. Kelly taught them so much.

Couric: How do you think Kelly would want people to remember him?

James: Kelly was the biggest optimist you'd ever meet. And Kelly really wanted people to seize the day and he lived every day to the fullest, love as much as you can, live as much as you can and appreciate people around you. And he's taught me that, and he's taught the kids that. And that's why I kind of feel I hit the lottery of life in men because I got to take a journey, and it wasn't long enough, but I got to take a journey with a man who just took me to the moon the back. And I'm very thankful for that.

James: Kelly had this little ornament, and he's had it since he was little. And it's a manger. It's just this little plastic thing. And it's always the tradition that Jack and Kelly put it on the tree together. And so I said this Christmas, we're going to put that ornament on the tree. And one of the things that we really understand about Christmas is that little baby born in a barn is the reason our family has so much strength now. And that is really important to Kelly.

Couric: It sounds as if your faith was strengthened by this whole ordeal. But it must have been tested, too.

James: No, it was never tested. And Kelly said, you know, I remember one time we were watching TV and he said to me, "I can't wait to go to heaven." And I said, "What?" We were watching some show that had nothing to do with it. And he said, "Yeah, that's going to be really cool." And I said, "You know, can you, can you hold off? Can we ... can we wait?" But he wasn't scared. And so those conversations are what I hold on to.

Couric: Is there any lesson for either other climbers or just for people in general from what's happened?

James: I've told a friend, a colleague of mine who I work with, hold your wives really, really tight because you don't know when our journey's going to end. And my journey ended with an 'I love you." And ... for others, if their journey ends with an "I love you," it's a lot to hold onto.

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Tune in to Friday's The Early Show for more of the interview.

[packerman27]

I'd like to point out also, Miss Tracey164, you've shown your intelligence once again on your last post. You pretty much attacked every person from Wisc. as you labeled them all fat, beer drinking, stupid, rednecks. Also, there are no other fans as loyal as the Packer's fans, year in...year out. Do you have anything you'd like to say about other states in our Union???Your ignorance just keeps multiplying..... you should stop typing, while your way behind. And look at the other post..... most people believe the same as I, that should not been on the world news. So sign yourself up for some more classes, you seem to need it. And may all the fat, welfare, rednecks of Wisc. wish you a Merry X-mas!!!

[packerman27]

Well, Tracey164, seem quite full of yourself.... you've mentioned your intellegence and your Masters already in a few short paragraphs. I've met a few people with what I'd call, "book smarts", but not a lick of common sense. I think your a simpleton. You've left topic a bit ago..... And that is this guy shuldn't be out risking his life, climbing, with a family at home. Pretty selfish of him I'd say. And with all the news that needs covered, I'd say pretty sad that they spent that much time to interview that ***! Anyway..... you go ahead and talk nasty to all the waiters, etc. Toodles!!!

[dlwingnut19]

I am grateful to see the video and hear about a strong faith in Jesus Christ. In a society where that is usually never discussed what a tribute to my God. This widow has taken the courage to speak in public about the faith that is upholding them through such a difficult time. Thank you for sharing.

[tracey164]

Well, my mistake "packerman" You're from WI, that explains everything- Small town hick with bad school systems and the top 10 states for the most *** offenders living there....

Like most other "Packermen" I imagine a large, beer sucking, foul motuh, uneducated SLOB. I have no right to expect anything more from you.

[tracey164]

Ummm, nope loser, I am married with 2 kids and hold a Masters degree. So, sorry to disappoint you! I, unlike you, am not an angry person. WOW, I am a ^%$%&- Again showing your intelligence-Your comment, makes no sense.

I am guessing you have no high school diploma either. Yes, I am a *** and I can be because I am an educated contributor to society- I simply logged on to watch the interview and saw your horrible comments-

I have a piece of advice for you, THERAPY! It's time to let go of the anger-

[bhaddad103]

First and foremost my heart and prayers go out to Karen James and to the families of the missing... I would rather hear stories that matter to the heart rather than listening to a bunch of preppies raping and kidnapping..these families who loved and lost are real..The ones that hurt one another are nothing...

[packerman27]

You, Tracey164, are a ***!!! You climb a mountain with two outcomes likely to happen. You make it or quite possibly, die. Wow, he did it. 100 % chance of one or the other. Nothing special about that. Your probably one of those simple people who don't have much of a life. Sit around keeping an eye so and so moviestar's wedding plans..???? Kinda need to live for there lives, do ya????

[agnim]

"Myself and many other intelligent people are interested in this story. They have families, and we all make choices and take risks.

Posted by Tracey164 at 07:21 PM : Dec 22, 2006"

The important word there is RISK!

Unnecessary risk!

Childish risk!

Risk of retards!

AND WORSE!
Risk to the lives of rescuers and their families, and the unwarranted drain on the state's coffers!

There are countless Americans going hungry and homeless who could have used the RESOURCES WASTED ON SELF-ABSORBED RETARDS WHO ARE JUST OUT TO TAKE UNNECESSARY RISKS!

Someone needs to put this AVOIDABLE tragedy in perspective so as to DISCOURAGE FUTURE 'EDUCATED' AND SELF-ABSORBED RETARDS WHO PUT OTHERS THROUGH MUCH MISERY FOR NAUGHT.

[hpruden]

Katie,
Last night, and then again this morning, I had to ignore your story with the widow. Enough already!!

Why isn't there an interview with the wife or mother of the man that was shoot fifty times by members of NYPD? Instead you
decide to give airtime to the widow of a man that died doing a hobby! He died by his own choice, he and his team knew that
there was a storm coming and he and his buddies still decided still try to climb "unprepared."

If you wanted to be a true journalist, you could have used the time to bring focus to race and race relations here in NYC and
across the country. You could be asking questions like, "Why is it African Americans are shot? When is the last time an
unarmed white person was shot fifty times by police officers?" There are many other questions that could be asked......and
need to be asked.

Enough resources, both in resuse efforts and by jouralists, have been wasted on this misadventure on Mt. Hood.

Harlan Pruden
Co-Chair and Co-Founder
NorthEast Two-Spirit Society
[e-mail]
www.ne2ss.org

[hpruden]

Message successfully sent
To:
[e-mail]
Cc:

Subject:
Enough with Mt. Hood!!!

Katie,
Last night, and then again this morning, I had to ignore your story with the widow. Enough already!!

Why isn't there an interview with the wife or mother of the man that was shoot fifty times by members of NYPD? Instead you
decide to give airtime to the widow of a man that died doing a hobby! He died by his own choice, he and his team knew that
there was a storm coming and he and his buddies still decided still try to climb "unprepared."

If you wanted to be a true journalist, you could have used the time to bring focus to race and race relations here in NYC and
across the country. You could be asking questions like, "Why is it African Americans are shot? When is the last time an
unarmed white person was shot fifty times by police officers?" There are many other questions that could be asked......and
need to be asked.

Enough resources, both in resuse efforts and by jouralists, have been wasted on this misadventure on Mt. Hood.

Harlan Pruden
Co-Chair and Co-Founder
NorthEast Two-Spirit Society
[e-mail]
www.ne2ss.org

[tracey164]

You, my friend, are so ignorent. To post a comment like that is heartlesss and shows your serious lack of intelligence. Yes, our military Men and Women are dying but they, like Mr. James, chose to be in the Military.

He was a well educated contributor to society. Unlike you, I would imagine, who is probably sucking the government, blaming everyone else for your unhappiness and problems.

Myself and many other intelligent people are interested in this story. They have families, and we all make choices and take risks. At least his family can say take comfort in the fact that he LOVED life. That is rare.

To the man who wrote"second hand wife" Well, I would rather be a second hand wife, than read your ignorent, angry emails. I can only assume this sort of hate and anger comes from a poor childhood, lack of self confidence, and general unhappiness with your worthless lives, and the jelousy you must feel toward 3 people who were so accomplished.

God Bless the families of our military and the missing/deceased hikers. May God give you stregnth, peace , and comfort.

[packerman27]

I had turn the channel..... 15 minutes of blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda..... This made me want to puke. All these soldiers getting blown to bits and their families lives are ruined, fighting for our country, and instead of giving them 15 minutes for being a hero, your covering some guy falling asleep in the snow during his hobby. I think if I get terminal cancer, I'm climbing a mountain and taking a cold sleep and you can interview my wife about how I'm all this and all that!!!!!!!!! Never mind the police officer killed that day.... the soldier, etc. Man..... get Katie a new job!!!! PUKE, PUKE, PUKE!!!!!

[agnim]

"Why is it CBS has to go interview the WIDOW of a dead climber now?

Posted by newster1 at 08:55 AM : Dec 22, 2006"
Not just CBS; but that Katie Cursed, lover of tragedy.

Katie chases people in pain like ambulances chase the infirm. LOL

Miss Cursed has to itemize and milk every facet of pain of every publicized tragedy for all the misery it possesses.

[jessiejenns]

hey newster1, when is the last time you scaled a mountain? Have you ever climbed anything besides onto the couch or the bed?

[agnim]

"Did you read this part? This man was not an idiot. He owned his own business for Gods sake.
Well educated. Which is more than I can say for the chosen few here that have posted some stupid comments.

Posted by pjt759 at 01:31 PM : Dec 22, 2006"

Ever heard of an 'educated idiot'? LOL

We have one right now leading 300 million sheeple over the abyss!

These guys weren't so evil. Thank the stars. LOL

However, they did selfishly pain those who were near and dear to them, climbing a mountain in the middle of winter practically! How freaking childish is that?

They also lean heavily on the the state's coffers AND ON THE LIVES AND WELL BEING OF THOSE WHO HAVE TO UNNECESSARILY RISK THEIR LIVES and waste valuable resources hunting for so-called adults with children's mentality!

These moronic mountaineers not only endanger themselves; they also endanger the lives of rescuers who also have families who could be pained if something happened to the rescuers!

[zedo1]

just to let you know that people out here are thinking of you and your family at this sad time,
isn't amazing to know now he's climbing the mountains in heaven,never say goodbye,because goodbye is forever,and every one knows someday we will meet again,what a wonderful day that will be, may gods peace love and strength be you...

[pjt759]

I am beginning to wonder if a chosen few of you. You know who you are. Even read this article or listened to the interview. Quote:
She had good reason to hold on to hope. The 48-year-old landscape architect was a 25-year veteran mountaineer who had already successfully scaled some of the most treacherous summits in the world.
Did you read this part? This man was not an idiot. He owned his own business for Gods sake.
Well educated. Which is more than I can say for the chosen few here that have posted some stupid comments.

[agnim]

I feel this widow's pain.
At the same time, I'm also very happy for her.
Cheer up, girl!

Now this widow might be able to attract a more sane mate as husband from among those who might not mind a secondhand wife.



Fools and their lives are soon parted!

Whomever coined the phrase 'crazy Americans' was definitely feeling the American pulse. LOL

It is understandable when children gamble with their lives for the sake of mere pittance.

It is downright retarded when selfish, self-centered, or insane adults(?) seek to emulate inexperienced children and CAUSE UNNECESSARY AND AVOIDABLE BURDEN TO OTHERS WHO WILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR DUMB DISAPPEARANCE!

[jls1822]

I would like to apologize to Karen and her family for the self centerness and ignorance of some of these people who commented. This is NOT a race issue and for once why don't you think about someone else besides yourselves. A man died and all you can worry about is the color of his skin or the fact that he wasen't fighting for his country. We feel for all the soliders who died and we feel sorry for the innocent people who die everyday, and yet all you people think about is who didn't make the headline news. Karen, you and your family are in my prayers!

[outdoor06]

newster1 - your comments show your ignorance. They were highly experienced. They had seen plenty of snow. They were highly prepared. They made very few mistakes if any. Read up before you post. Of course, no one from Texas has seen snow, right?

humancitizen - I didn't know this was a race issue. But I guess some people can make anything a race issue. Most of the people involved in the search love to climb also and understand what those guys were going thru. They were glad to help.

How many tax dollars go toward helping prevent or clean up after lawless criminals around the country? Maybe we should just leave drunk drivers to die in the wreckage the create?