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

[Sundayrain]

They seem like such strong, loving women. I can't imagine what they are going through at the moment. I just have to believe their husbands will come off the mountain alive.

They were beautiful to watch........all bundled together.
They have great faith......
Those teams want to get them......so God give them help and
we need it soon.:angel: :angel:

 

[dark_shadows]

OMG it is good to be back here! I about went :crazy: last night. I was writing a post when my power went out with a bang at 9pm. I sat there for a little bit thinking it would come back on, but no such luck! It just came back on about 1pm today, and the heat and TV and Computer and lights are all working and my clocks are all reset! And I actually goa 9 hours of sleep.

What a deal, as I had no batteries in my little radio and not one D battery in the house. Now it has started hailing so hard it is almost white-out and the wind is carrying the hail sideways! Unbelievable, as I thought we had a little window around noon and was hoping they could make headway up on the mountain.

When I got to the office this morning around 8am {can you believe that ;} first thing I asked my boss was if there was any news up on Hood. He told me about a note with a listing of their provisions and of course I thought he had it all mixed up. LOL But no, coming here now I see he was on the ball and correct, and am so glad they left the note that is giving everyone renewed hope.

Unstable weather for sure, but hoping that tomorrow morning will be when the storm up there subsides. Now the sun is shining outside. Crazy but wonderful. And I bet if there's a rainbow it is speckled, as there is no rain, just tiny little hail lightly falling. Really pretty, and maybe a very good sign!

:blowkiss:

Looks like lots of new snow and it's still comin' down.

Good God Scandi!!! I am very thankful that you are ok.

Please be careful.

We need you.
All of my Respect to you,
dark_shadows

 

[scandi]

Hi Roughly, No, but I will tonight when I go shopping. I usually fall asleep to the TV so am used to a little noise. Amazingly I think I fell asleep almost right away, but there was a lot of wind and blowing rain last night. Cracking, things falling. I forgot to take my Hummingbird feeder down, and it stayed put! LOL

I think tomorrow morning - early am, is when they think the weater will lighten up. The C-120 made one pass today, and they think it will do another tonight. I'm amazed it didn't detect Mr. James heat. Snow is pourous basicly, but I'm wondering if it can detect heat through say 2 or more feet of packed snow.

 

[scandi]

You little Sweetie Dark_Shadows, I wasn't in any danger, just bored stiff.

Scandi

ETA: Have you guys noticed it's not snowing as hard right now!~

 

[dark_shadows]

You little Sweetie Dark_Shadows, I wasn't in any danger, just bored stiff.

Scandi

ETA: Have you guys noticed it's not snowing as hard right now!~

Scandi,:blowkiss:
Driving in that stuff is not good at all.
I am just thankful that you are ok......

What a deal, as I had no batteries in my little radio and not one D battery in the house.

My uncle swears by C. Crane products.






Respectfully,
dark_shadows

 

[Ca-Sun]

Mt. Hood is closed to all climbers now and tomorrow so there won't be any distractions for the SAR teams. The other problem they may face is avalanche danger.

 

[Buzz Mills]

12-15-2006
Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center
Timberline Lodge, Oregon

Precip gage not heating 12-15-06

MM/DD Hour Temp RH Wind Wind Wind Wind Hour Total 24 Hr Total
PST F % Min Avg Max Dir Prec. Prec. Snow Snow
6000' 6000" 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000'
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
12 15 1100 17 98 3 13 23 272 0 .26 11 82
12 15 1200 17 98 5 12 24 275 0 .26 11 282
12 15 1300 17 97 5 12 24 284 0 .26 11 82
12 15 1400 17 97 3 11 26 279 .01 .27 12 82
12 15 1500 15 97 4 10 22 285 0 .27 12 83
12 15 1600 15 degrees 97 1 9 32mph max 299 .01 .28 13 83
12 15 1700 15 degrees 97 2 10 22mph max 290 .03 .27 13 84
12 15 1800 15 97 1 5 13 286 .02 .15 13 84
12 15 1900 15 97 2 6 12 302 .02 .17 13 84
12 15 2000 14 96 3 9 14 315 .01 .1 13 84
12 15 2100 13 96 4 8 14 323 0 .1 13 84
12 15 2200 12 95 3 7 14 326 .01 .11 13 84


* MT HOOD AREA-
Moderate to heavy snow showers Friday afternoon and
gradually decreasing Friday evening. Light to moderate
snow showers Friday night. Becoming partly cloudy
Saturday with mainly high clouds. Partly cloudy Saturday
night.

 

[scandi]

Thanks for the tip on the radio Dark_Shadows. Looks like the weather on the mountain is better than it was 4 hours ago!~ :dance:

Scandi

 

[Buzz Mills]

I am wondering if Hall, and Cooke, left some of their personal supplies, especially fuel, and food, with Kelly James, thinking they would make it down the mountain for help, and wouldn't need it as much as Kelly James might. If so, Kelly James could be in better shape survival-wise than either Hall, or Cooke. Let's hope that tomorrow brings clear weather, and that the Search & Rescue folks can mount a full-scale effort.

 

[Ca-Sun]

Here is a pretty good article talking about all the technology being used in the rescue of the 3 climbers.

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/13/20506.aspx

 

[Ca-Sun]

I am wondering if Hall, and Cooke, left some of their personal supplies, especially fuel, and food, with Kelly James, thinking they would make it down the mountain for help, and wouldn't need it as much as Kelly James might. If so, Kelly James could be in better shape survival-wise than either Hall, or Cooke. Let's hope that tomorrow brings clear weather, and that the Search & Rescue folks can mount a full-scale effort.

I've wondered about that too, Buzz. I still find it very odd that there has been nothing from the other 2 - I keep hoping that the weather was too bad so they returned to the snow cave with Kelly James. Where are their cell phones? Kelly called home Sunday afternoon - do you know what the weather was like at that point? What about Monday morning?

 

[dark_shadows]

I watched Fox news and it showed an Army Ranger speaking about the C-130 infared heat-seeking plane, a Blackhawk and other planes. They said that it can be used day and night and during all types of inclement weather. T-Mobile will continue sending communication non-stop to the phone so they do not miss if it is turned back on and then shut off.
The reporter stated that people were very optimistic that these men will be found safe.

Greta is going to be talking about this at 10pm tonight.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I watched Fox news and it showed an Army Ranger speaking about the C-130 infared heat-seeking plane, a Blackhawk and other planes. They said that it can be used day and night and during all types of inclement weather. T-Mobile will continue sending communication non-stop to the phone so they do not miss if it is turned back on and then shut off.
The reporter stated that people were very optimistic that these men will be found safe.

Greta is going to be talking about this at 10pm tonight.

d_s, I was just getting ready to ask you about the C-19's those C-130 pilots were allegedly flying.

Now if we can only get the climbers to leave their foxhole ice caves so that the IR detectors can pick them up. The climbers also need to turn their cell phones on so that IOMAX can pick up the signal, and pinpoint them.

 

[scandi]

Great article Ca-Sun. Thanks for all your contributions. Did you read the coment section? I read one from your link I just have to share:

"You never leave a fellow climber/hiker behind or missing unless that's the only life-or-death choice remaining. ("Touching the Void", Into Thin Air", etc.) That's why the SAR folks do what they do: because they care. Deeply. They will not take stupid chances, but they will not give up until they either find their people or they're pulled off the mountain. That's just the way it is, always has been and always will be. It's that simple. It's the Golden Rule. It's Karma. Send a warm and strong light from your heart to each and every person on Mt. Hood. P&L"

This has really become a very personal rescue mission. It seems that so many people that know them or are family or are in the mountaineering business have come forward. I read comments by them in several blogs, the family, of which a large part is now here waiting close to the mountain, has been so genuine and willing to share their feelings and ask the world for prayers. I am so touched by this.

As I always hope, people out there will learn so much from living this experience through these people. Not just about the art and passion of climbing, but how important it is to always have a thorough plan no matter what you do. But it's also about living your life to your fullest potential and still being so humble as to ask for help.

It reminds me of a line from Bob Dillons song, 'Forever Young': . .May you always do for others and let others do for you . .May you climb a stairway to the stars and climb up every rung, and may you stay, Forever Young."

On a practical note, tonight I heard a S&R guy say tomorrow with the end of the storm, it would be up to the stranded men to bust out of their caves to let searchers see where they are. BTW, he also said he was looking at the stars that are out tonight, first time he said he has seen that since the ordeal began.

What I'm wondering is how three guys will know the right time is at hand to leave the caves? Will they be able to tell the storm has passed?

Scandi

 

[Sassygerl]

d_s, I was just getting ready to ask you about the C-19's those C-130 pilots were allegedly flying.

Now if we can only get the climbers to leave their foxhole ice caves so that the IR detectors can pick them up. The climbers also need to turn their cell phones on so that IOMAX can pick up the signal, and pinpoint them.

Wouldn't the opening to the cave radiate enough heat to be picked up by the IR detectors? I've read about IR picking up polar bears sleeping in their dens.....it would be so great if they are able to pick them up while still in the snow cave(s). I am praying they find these guys tomorrow!!!!

 

[scandi]

Hi Sundayrain,

I just watched Greta who had a stellar and long segment on the Mt Hood rescue. James' wife and Hall's sister were on, and they were just as you said, full of hope, knowing their men were going to walk off the mtn.

And it was interesting as we are all wondering about the other 2 men, but Kelly's wife said they all think they hunkered down right below where Kelly James cave is.

That gives me a good feeling that they will come out first and go up to open his cave for him if he is injured. And he must be injured creating a life or death situation, or they would have hunkered down with Kelly right off the bat IMHO

Scandi

 

[Ca-Sun]

Hi Sundayrain,

I just watched Greta who had a stellar and long segment on the Mt Hood rescue. James' wife and Hall's sister were on, and they were just as you said, full of hope, knowing their men were going to walk off the mtn.

And it was interesting as we are all wondering about the other 2 men, but Kelly's wife said they all think they hunkered down right below where Kelly James cave is.

That gives me a good feeling that they will come out first and go up to open his cave for him if he is injured. And he must be injured creating a life or death situation, or they would have hunkered down with Kelly right off the bat IMHO

Scandi

Darn, I missed it. Sounds like it was a good one. Did any of the wives say why they thought the other 2 are close to Kelly?

 

[scandi]

No, she said it fast to kind of squeeze it in. Those segments only have so much time.

On the Cascade Climber blog, someone has just asked how they know when to get out of their caves. I gotta hear the answer to this! I just asked it here and I bet a lot of people are wondering that after just watching that guy on Greta.

Greta replays in 2 hours I think. It was well worth watching.

 

[Ca-Sun]

The C-130 flew over Mt. Hood today, but saw no sign of the climbers.

The plane made three passes, one at 8,000 feet, the next at 10,000 feet and the last, over the top of the volcanic summit, at 12,500 feet. The C-130's equipment wouldn't have detected body heat from a snow cave, in any case.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16220398/

 

[Ca-Sun]

No, she said it fast to kind of squeeze it in. Those segments only have so much time.

On the Cascade Climber blog, someone has just asked how they know when to get out of their caves. I gotta hear the answer to this! I just asked it here and I bet a lot of people are wondering that after just watching that guy on Greta.

Greta replays in 2 hours I think. It was well worth watching.

LOL! That was me! I am hoping someone will answer.