OR OR - Kelly James (dead), Brian Hall, 37, Jerry Cooke, 36, Mt. Hood Climbers, Dec 2006

[Liz]

Gosh, right on the heels of the tragic outcome to the Kim family, three men went to climb Mt Hood. And now one has been left behind, stranded, I guess due to an injury. Their names have not been released. Hoping they are all found safe.


Missing Hikers Left Note At Base Of Oregon's Mt. Hood

POSTED: 7:50 am PST December 11, 2006
UPDATED: 8:14 am PST December 11, 2006

MOUNT HOOD, Ore. -- Crews are searching Oregon's Mount Hood for three climbers who have not been seen since Thursday.

The first rescue team headed up the mountain early Monday morning.

More:
http://www.nbc11.com/news/10508412/detail.html

ETA Just heard confirmation that the stranded man is indeed injured; to what extent is unknown. I believe I heard his name given as Kelly James from Dallas. Rescue workers believe they can get to him today, but it will probably take all day due to the heavy snow and high wind conditions.

 

[Liz]

Here's a snippet from The Oregonian

The climbers, men in their 30s, became the latest case of out-of-state visitors trapped by Oregon's unpredictable winter weather after leaving their car Wednesday to climb the north side of Mount Hood. They planned to spend two nights on the mountain and meet friends Friday afternoon at Timberline Lodge.

But they never showed, and the friends called authorities.

--> more at link

 

[Sniffy38]

Here we go again. Why, oh why, do people do this? Such a sad story. Please read more at the link:

"Rollins said conditions on the mountain were deadly. There is "very hard ice, coupled with very high winds. You have a lot of snow on very hard ice. There is no easy way off the mountain," he said. "


http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=nation_world&id=4842502

 

[Liz]

Has one of the men been located, Sniffy? I notice the heading on your post says "2 missing".

Yes, this is certainly a shame. I think these people that go out and deliberately take these risks should at least have the sense to carry a personal GPS locator beacon, in case they get lost.

These risky adventures not only put their families through a great deal of stress, but puts rescue team members' lives at risk as well.

Here are snippets from another article (which says they left Wed, which in earlier reports was stated as Thursday):

The trio left their car on Wednesday to climb the difficult north side of the mountain, Oregon's tallest peak, and had planned to spend two nights on the mountain, meeting friends at Timberline Lodge on Friday or Saturday.

None of the three men had climbed the mountain before. About 10,000 people a year start for the summit and on average 20-25 have to be rescued.

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

Brown said one group of searchers would concentrate on known areas near the base, where the two might emerge, and that another group would go straight up the north face.

A winter storm watch is in effect for the area at least through Tuesday.

Brown said his office had contacted two of the families who said their relatives were experienced climbers.

Rescuers had hoped to begin searching Sunday night but weather made it impossible.

The Oregon Air National Guard had a helicopter on standby to use if weather conditions improve.

Lou Ann Cameron of Bryant, Ark., said in a telephone interview Monday that her son Kelly James is one of the climbers. She said James called his own son Jason from inside a snow cave on the mountain's north face Sunday afternoon. Cameron said her grandson told her the other two men had gone back down the mountain to seek help.

Cameron said Jason later said he "didn't sound good."

Cameron said searchers had hoped to track James by the phone's signal, but could not.

She said the three men planned to ice-climb the mountain's northern face, but hadn't reached the summit. (Sounds treacherous, doesn't it?)

Authorities described the three men as well-equipped.

Most people who get in trouble on the mountain head up the south side from Timberline Lodge, where the path to the summit looks deceptively easy.

Full story: KOMO

 

[cynpat2000]

I so hope that this story has a better outcome than what happened to James Kim.

 

[Sniffy38]

Sorry, Liz - that was a typo on my part. It is three missing, sad to say. Let's hope this story will have a happier outcome than the Kim's.

 

[Liz]

Sorry, Liz - that was a typo on my part. It is three missing, sad to say. Let's hope this story will have a happier outcome than the Kim's.

No prob, Sniffy. I was hoping maybe at least the injured man had been located --- he's a father to four. Oh, I sooo hope all three men can be found alive.

I can only imagine what the families of these men must be going through!

 

[jodierenee]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4393446.html

Texan one of three Missing on Mt. Hood

Weather suspends search for climbers on Mount Hood

By BRAD CAIN
Associated Press

COOPER SPUR, Ore. — Rescue teams headed up the flanks of treacherous Mount Hood today to search for three climbers reported missing in heavy snow, but were ordered off the mountain when conditions became too dangerous.

Officials described the three men as experienced but said none had climbed Mount Hood before.

The mother of one of the men said he had called his son on a cell phone Sunday to say he was stranded in a snow cave just below the summit of the 11,239-foot peak while his companions went for help. Authorities were unable to re-establish cell phone contact with the climber, and there was no sign of the other men.

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

Snow was falling heavily today 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 Tuesday, along with wind gusts of up to 55 mph that will reduce visibility and raise the risk of avalanches.

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

The seven three-member rescue teams searching for the men encountered wind gusts of 80 mph and blowing snow, said Deputy Marc Smith of the Hood River County Sheriff's Office. 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 on 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 on the mountain 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.

 

[scandi]

I think searchers must have a good idea where Mr James is because he called once and made a connection, and he is in the ice cave. If it weren't snowing it would be a much better scenario, but with no signal now from his phone and 2 feet of snow expected between tonight and tomorrow, it is very scary. The son said his dad didn't sound good. Wonder what his injury is?

We need to keep them in our thoughts. Scandi

 

[scandi]

I just heard on of the emergency searchers say that avalanche is a very big possibility right now with conditiond as they are on the mtn. That with white out cond. and winds. Said he didn't know if they would even make it up very far on the mtn, and they didn't - called them back.

That is an unwritten rule I think in search and rescue. You never put the life of the rescuer in extreme danger. It is his life over that of the one in trouble, which I understand completely.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I think searchers must have a good idea where Mr James is because he called once and made a connection, and he is in the ice cave. If it weren't snowing it would be a much better scenario, but with no signal now from his phone and 2 feet of snow expected between tonight and tomorrow, it is very scary. The son said his dad didn't sound good. Wonder what his injury is?

We need to keep them in our thoughts. Scandi

Scandi, I tried looking up the weather for Mt. Hood, but it gives the weather for the town, Parkdale, which must be at the foot of Mt. Hood. It showed rain predicted and just a little above freezing. Of course, up on the mountain, that would be heavy snow, and much colder temperatures.

Mt. Hood Pics
http://images.google.com/images?ie=...,-121.59153&spn=0.100774,0.301781&om=1&tab=li

Mt. Hood--Wikapedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hood

 

[scandi]

I found this Buzz, but you know weather conditions half way up on that mountain are very different than at the base, which is what you see here. Wait a min and the web cam will open up:

http://www.skihood.com/

 

[Buzz Mills]

I found this Buzz, but you know weather conditions half way up[ on that mountain are very different than at the base, which is what you see here. Wait a min and the web cam will open up:

http://www.skihood.com/

MM/DD Hour Temp Temp RH RH Wind Wind Wind Hour Total 24 Hr Total
PST F F % % Avg Max Dir Prec. Prec. Snow Snow
6600' 5250' 6600' 5250' 6600' 6600' 6600' 5250' 5250' 5250' 5250'
12 11 700 30 33 99 100 17 30 260 0 .17 0 60
12 11 800 30 33 99 99 20 39 257 .01 .18 0 62
12 11 900 30 33 99 99 22 36 256 .05 .23 0 61
12 11 1000 31 33 99 98 22 34 256 0 .23 0 62
12 11 1100 31 33 99 98 30 45 252 .07 .3 1 60
12 11 1200 31 34 99 98 34 47 251 .05 .35 1 61
12 11 1300 32 34 99 98 36 58 253 .1 .45 1 62
12 11 1400 32 35 99 98 32 51 258 .13 .58 1 62
12 11 1500 32 34 100 97 22 46 273 .2 .78 1 62
12 11 1600 31 33 100 97 30 57 267 .1 .88 1 61
12 11 1700 29 33 99 98 30 57 257 .09 .97 1 60

I think the injured climber was up at around 8000' if I heard it correctly. The temp there at 5:00PM was probably around 25 degrees. Top is just under 11,300'.

 

[scandi]

Thanks Buzz, I saw that chart but didn't know how to interpret it.

It is windy and stormy here too in Beaverton - has been all day long. The wind blows the rain sideways. Lots of car accidents in town tonight.

Euufta! It'll possibly snow here too. But I know why they say avalanches are a primo fear right now. Tomorrow the weather is warming to 47 degrees at the base during the day. Then progressively getting warmer for the next few days as well. The white stuff starts melting and that is when avalanches suddenly shear off the mountainside.

 

[Liz]

Just a little heads up ...

Greta has coverage upcoming about these 3 missing guys. I don't know if it will be immediately after the commercial break or later in her show.

Oh she's back, and now she's going into the latest on Princess Diana.

 

[Liz]

According to AccuWeather:

There will be a brief respite early on Tuesday before a more powerful storm pulls into the Northwest station.

Greta had a guy on from AccuWeather and he pretty much said the same. Tomorrow may be the only window of opportunity for rescuers to find these guys. Although its like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

I fear if these missing men are not located tomorrow, their demise is going to be pretty bleak.

Praying for them to be found alive.


ETA: According to Outdoor Newswire, the climbers whom authorities have identified as Kelly James, 48, and Brian Hall, 37, both of Dallas, Texas; and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y. set out Wednesday from Cooper Spur to attempt the difficult north side of the mountain.

 

[Liz]

Snippets from article, 3 climbers missing on Mount Hood dated Tuesday, December 12, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM


Saying they planned to resume the search today, members of the seven three-member rescue teams described ugly weather, with snow and visibility at less than five feet, and the fear of falling into crevasses.

"We're dealing with gusts of 85 miles an hour that were knocking us back," said Tom Scully of the mountain-rescue unit known as the Crag Rats.

"They're going to regroup, wait for a break in the weather, and then go back up on the mountain," said Deputy Marc Smith of the Hood River County Sheriff's Office.

Smith said teams were well-equipped and experienced but did not get past the 8,500-foot level of the 11,239-foot peak.

--> more at link above

 

[dark_shadows]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4393446.html

The mother of one of the men said he had called his son on a cell phone Sunday to say he was stranded in a snow cave just below the summit of the 11,239-foot peak while his companions went for help. Authorities were unable to re-establish cell phone contact with the climber, and there was no sign of the other men.

Hi Jodierenee,
This statement alone makes my heart hurt.


Liz,:blowkiss:
Thank-you for posting the thread. I did not hear about this before.
Respectfully,
dark_shadows

 

[Liz]

You're most welcome, dark. :blowkiss: I wish it were a more encouraging story.

Here's a link to a very recent article posted at OregonLive.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/metroeast...e/metro_east_news/1165863317138400.xml&coll=7

It mentions that they received a cell phone ping at about 10,000 feet yesterday. I guess that could be perceived as an encouraging sign.

But the weather sounds horrific, especially for trying to find missing people.

 

[dark_shadows]

You're most welcome, dark. :blowkiss: I wish it were a more encouraging story.

Here's a link to a very recent article posted at OregonLive.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/metroeast/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_east_news/1165863317138400.xml&coll=7

It mentions that they received a cell phone ping at about 10,000 feet yesterday. I guess that could be perceived as an encouraging sign.

But the weather sounds horrific, especially for trying to find missing people.

Liz,:blowkiss:
Thanks for the link. Please keep us updated.
Alll of my Respect to you,
dark_shadows