Posted on 12/14/2009 6:38:36 PM PST by valkyry1
-- Rescuers hoping to find two hikers missing on the frigid slopes of Oregon's Mount Hood faced worsening weather conditions Monday night as forecasters predicted white-out conditions that could severely hinder search efforts.
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Up to 2 feet of snow is expected to fall Monday night into Tuesday at the elevation where rescuers are searching for any signs of Anthony Vietti, 24, and Katie Nolan, 29, who have been missing since early Friday. A third hiker who was with them, 26-year-old Luke Gullberg, was found dead Saturday.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I’d love to go hiking up there. Not sure I would do it in December.
Hmmm.
I have been up on these mountains Hood, Shasta. And there’s been times when I got there I said ‘no not today’. And to go up this time of the year with the days short as they are and the weather bad as it is, you’re rolling the dice.
I hike the Cascades and Olympics - have since I was old enough to walk ... never ever would go up there in winter ... last hike would be sometime mid-November and only after checking weather forcasts ... these people should have checked and if they did they’d have known bad weather was coming plus Mt. Hood??????? Dumb ....
That can lead to over confidence, complacency, under estimating the conditions up there.
Buy what do I know?
Regardless, I pray for them and their families.
If they are expert climbers, they have a snow cave, in a ravine or sheltered area, and have enough rations and down bags to survive. Two people can do it, one propably not. How was the third found ? What was his situation?
Whats sad is they could most likely make it out if they have the necessary knowledge.
the article says the weather conditions were “perfect”....hmmmm....I’m here in Oregon....and ANYONE with a brain knew a front was on the way after our recent deep freeze....I don’t get that statement about the conditions being perfect.
//the challenge of a tough climb in tough weather. They want to come close to, but still cheat death//
I could relate to that but then I could not forget how tough of a slough it can be once you get up there. For instance on Mt. Shasta if you start your climb at the Old Ski Bowl, you still have 7000’ of vertical ascent to the top, and a lot of places to get lost on the way if the weather goes against you. The wind gets so bad up there during a storm even if you are hunkered down it might take you away.
at least a hurricane won’t freeze you to death.
I agree. The activity has to do with eternal youth, and the results have to do with the impossibility of eternal youth.
expecting a foot of snow tonight.
Aren’t there any devices on the market at an affordable price that could be used to send strong signals that rescuers could use to locate lost hikers? I’m thinking of something like the transponders carried by combat pilots.
Up for a hike and missing since Friday? They’re all gone by now, or will be after this storm.
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