Posted on 12/20/2006 12:29:05 PM PST by conservative in nyc
The search to find two missing climbers alive on Mount Hood is over and it has now become a "recovery effort," Sheriff Joe Wampler said Wednesday.
"We've done everything we can at this point," Wampler said.
He made the remarks after personally piloting a Piper Cub over the 11,239-foot mountain for new clues. He found none.
His decision ends a dramatic nine-day search for three climbers who went missing on Mount Hood on Dec. 11.
One of three — Kelly James — was pulled out of a snow cave on Monday. For three days, the volunteers and helicopters scoured the mountain in hopes of locating signs of James' mountaineering partners — Brian Hall and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke.
But Wampler said searchers have given up hope of finding them alive.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I've feared the worse for days now. Prayers up for these two men's families.
I don't mean to be morbid, and I don't know the area, but I'm curious...
Will they ever be found? Does enough of the snow melt in the spring to insure that their remains will eventually be visible, or is it possible they'll remain permanently frozen in a snowcave somewhere?
Well, I guess that depends on "Global Warming".
Several of us think the two met their end before Kelly James did. Have you visited this thread? Beginning with the last post and tracking backwards...
Mt. Hood Body Identified As Kelly James
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1755244/posts?page=352
I have read that there are crevices and such on that mountain that the men could have fallen into, in which case they will probably never be found.
Didn't they find a WWII pilot within the past year in a similar area? Guy was up there for 60 years!
Both are possible. Depends on where they really are.
Just read speculation, that if they fell off the north face, they may never be found. Could be buried in the middle of the glacier, or overflow of snow. Very sad.
The going theory now is that they met with a climbing accident when trying to get off the mountain, and that they might be buried under layers of snow or deep in a thousand foot crevass. There is a fair amount of evidence to suggest it. That, as opposed to being in a snow cave somewhere 'til they froze to death.
The guy who invented the internet and also the same guy who is fighting to save this planet from global warming assures us that yes, enough snow will be melting very soon. Let not your heart be troubled.
"Didn't they find a WWII pilot within the past year in a similar area? Guy was up there for 60 years!"
No. He was found in the Eastern High Sierra of California, just west of Big Pine.
I've been up to Lost Lake Fishing Resort about 3100 up the north side in the summer. Seems to me there wasn't a whole lot of snow at that time except way up. I think it's possible they'll be found when the snow melts.
But the original question still stands. There is a good likelyhood that these climbers may not be found for many many decades. Correct?
"But the original question still stands. There is a good likelyhood that these climbers may not be found for many many decades. Correct?"
Correct. There are many people who have gotten lost or injured in the Sierra in the winter and have never been found. However, hikers do seem to come upon at least one body a year there after the spring thaw.
You asked -- "Will they ever be found? Does enough of the snow melt in the spring to insure that their remains will eventually be visible, or is it possible they'll remain permanently frozen in a snowcave somewhere?"
Well, quite a bit of snow does melt by summer. When looking at the mountain in winter, the entire mountain is covered with snow. When looking at the mountain in summer, you can see quite a bit of ground, below Timberline Lodge (at the 6,000 foot level). So, significant amounts melt by Summer.
However, they are not climbing at levels below Timberline Lodge; they are well above that level. And there is a lot of snow, ice and glaciers up high.
So, it is entirely likely that they could remain buried for five, ten, fifty or a hundred years or more -- without being found.
Some years back, there was a "hiker/climber" in Central Oregon who disappeared. I mean, that's not unusual that someone disappeared. It has happened. With this guy, it was back around 20 or 30 years ago.
Now, the significant thing was that during a time of record melt-offs (in the Cascade Range mountains) -- he was found. So, it was sometime back in the 70s (I believe) that he was lost and a few years back that he was found. He might not have ever been found, except for that time of record snow melts.
And then, there was another search on Mt. Hood for someone who was lost. They never found the guy -- but found someone else. I don't think they were able to identify the guy they found -- and never did find the guy they were really looking for.
It's strange up in those mountains in Oregon.
Regards,
Star Traveler
You said -- "There is a good likelyhood that these climbers may not be found for many many decades. Correct?"
That's correct, given the history of Mt. Hood and the Cascade Range, over the years.
Regards,
Star Traveler
I agree. Remember the "Ice Man" in the Alps? It was 4,500 years before a thaw exposed him and he was found.
"There is a good likelyhood that these climbers may not be found for many many decades."
Or longer, unfortunately. I keep thinking of the iceman in the Alps from the Bronze Age.
Read on another forum, that if they fell off the north face, they may never be found. Could be buried in very deep snow, or in a glacier.
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