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

New Posts

  • #621
czechmate7 said:
That is the same thing I wondered about. I'm sure when he spoke with his son and wife he mentioned what that injury was...has it ever been revealed?

I just don't understand where the other climbers could be? Why hasn't the rescue team run into them? They know the route these guys took...I'm sure it's very frustrating for the rescue team..
Click to expand...
They will do an autopsy and determine the extent of his injuries.

No, it isn't a good sign that the other two haven't been spotted. They had a rough fix as to the location of Kelly James, and knew he was close to the summit; Hall and Cooke could be much more difficult to find. They think they have an idea as to which way they headed down, but Hall and Cooke could be anywhere in a very large search area. They don't always find lost climbers during the winter, when an appreciable amount of snow has fallen. Near the summit, the snow is windswept; not so, lower down.
 
  • #622
  • #623
czechmate7 said:
That is the same thing I wondered about. I'm sure when he spoke with his son and wife he mentioned what that injury was...has it ever been revealed?

I just don't understand where the other climbers could be? Why hasn't the rescue team run into them? They know the route these guys took...I'm sure it's very frustrating for the rescue team..
Click to expand...

Monring Czechmate and All!

As for what I can remember, it has never been reported what Kelly's injury might have been, and what I think he mentioned to his family, he was exhausted.

As for the route taken by Nikko and Brian, they may have intended to take a certain route according to their note, but may have become disoriented due to the weather. As explained last evening by some of the guest climbers, this would be very easy to do.

God Speed their recovery today, Mother Nature is about to wreak her havoc again.

What seems strange to me is the lack of equipment which has been reported to have been found in the icecaves. Where could it be? That is unless I have missed it. Anyone?
 
  • #624
scandi said:
Then this morning I read a link {darn! Should have brought it over} that didn't state as such but rather inferred Kelly was in the act of building the second cave when he died. So it was not a finished cave that he was ensconced in.
]
Click to expand...

Hi Scandi! This might be the link that Czechmate brought here post 606.
Now, we have a better idea about the two snow caves. Wasn't there a sleeping bag left in the other cave? This is so very very sad.
 
  • #625
kahskye said:
Maybe Kelly was unconscious when the other two left him in the first cave to get help. Later Kelly came to and may not have realized the extent of his injuries. He got up and left the cave and started walking, but became too weak. He was very disoriented, which would explain the footprints going around in circles. He couldn't remember which direction the first cave was so he started digging another cave for shelter where he unfortunately took his last breath.
Click to expand...

This is very likely, imo.
 
  • #626
Fact Box Timeline

Wednesday, Dec. 6: Three climbers leave their car at the Tilly Jane trail head near the Cooper Spur ski area to climb Mount Hood. Kelly James, 48, and Brian Hall, 37, both of Dallas, Texas; and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y., all experienced climbers, plan to spend at least two nights en route and meet friends at Timberline Lodge.

Thursday, Dec. 7: Climbers ascend Mount Hood, primarily using the Cooper Spur route but going over Eliot Glacier, too.

Friday, Dec. 8: Climbers take the north face route near Cooper Spur.

Saturday, Dec. 9: After summiting, Hall and Cooke leave James, who apparently was injured, in a snow cave and go for help.

Sunday, Dec. 10: Friends notify Hood River County sheriff's deputies that the climbers are missing. A limited search is launched. At 3:45 p.m., James calls his family on his cell phone from just below the summit near Eliot Glacier.

Monday, Dec. 11: Searchers track a ping from a cell phone at 10,300 feet, transmitted about 4:20 a.m., helping them narrow James' location. Rescue teams are turned back by weather at 8,500 feet.

Tuesday, Dec. 12: The last ping from the cell phone arrives about 1 a.m. Roughly 40 searchers hit the mountain, and a Black Hawk helicopter joins the search. Weather stops climbers on the north face at 7,200 feet and the helicopter at 6,000 feet. Reports of snowshoe tracks yield no clues.

Wednesday, Dec. 13: Weather keeps searchers at the tree line. Unmanned drones are brought in, to no avail.

Thursday, Dec. 14: Two drones are launched with negligible results, and the weather again limits searchers to the tree line and lower.

Friday, Dec. 15: Winter storms stymie any climbing, and teams hunker down at Timberline, Cloud Cap and a base in Portland for a full push Saturday.

Saturday, Dec. 16: Expert climbers -- 30 on the south face, 40 on the north face -- head up the mountain before daybreak. Attempts to build a base camp at 9,000 feet are scrapped by midday bad weather. Two teams reach 10,000 feet or higher but are turned back by wind. Helicopters circle, one sighting what the crew thought was two people on the north face. The report turned out not to be true. A C-130 military aircraft circled at higher altitudes and continued overnight employing heat-sensing infrared. All teams are called off by midafternoon.

Sunday, Dec. 17: Searchers find the body of one of the lost climbers in the afternoon. The day, clear and sunny, begins with hope among rescue teams. But just after noon, they discover a snow cave in the area where they believe James made a distress call with his cell phone. There was equipment inside and footprints outside. Searchers later discover a second snow cave nearby with a body inside. Searchers said they remain hopeful of finding the other two climbers alive.

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/factbox/index.ssf?/base/factboxes/1166415905261240.xml
 
  • #627
Press Conference at 9:00 in CA very soon....it's 8:50 here now.


.............xxxxxxxo
mama
 
  • #628
They will be searching the area in between Cooper Spur, and Elliott Glacier--that area is called the Gullies, and it it is too dangerous to put ground crew in that area during this time of the year. It is known for slides and avalanches.

The area they will be searching is below where the snow caves were found.
 
  • #629
Buzzm1 said:
They will be searching the area in between Cooper Spur, and Elliott Glacier--that area is called the Gullies, and it it is too dangerous to put ground crew in that area during this time of the year. It is known for slides and avalanches.

The area they will be searching is below where the snow caves were found.
Click to expand...

It seems to me like the sheriff is thinking this may have been an accidental fall situation, but he's not sure. This is based on the position of the anchor and ropes.
 
  • #630
1st snow cave--big enough for 3 guys, but just barely. Had spent a lot of time digging it.
 
  • #631
The news sounds grim. He was saying these climbers that left had the best chance to walk out and they haven't been heard from. That's not good.
 
  • #632
MrsMush99 said:
The news sounds grim. He was saying these climbers that left had the best chance to walk out and they haven't been heard from. That's not good.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it sounds grim :(
 
  • #633
This is terrible. Such handsome men with great lives and bright things ahead.

I feel terrible for their families. They must be a wreck, especially with Christmas one week from today :(

Prayers for the families and please let the other two men be found soon.
 
  • #634
I think the best chance they had of finding the other two climbers alive was yesterday. I'm worried now that they won't even find them until spring.
 
  • #635
cwiz24 said:
It seems to me like the sheriff is thinking this may have been an accidental fall situation, but he's not sure. This is based on the position of the anchor and ropes.
Click to expand...
They are searching below where the snow caves were. They figure Hall and Cooke headed down from there. They hiked up on Cooper Spur.
 
  • #636
Today--People will be lowered to the summit again to retrieve the body within 30 minutes.

SAR will be searching in area of interest as well for other 2 climbers.

Clear and sunny at summit. Avalanche risk is biggest issue right now for rescuers.
 
  • #637
  • #638
Buzzm1 said:
If they find them at all, I was reading back on the accident history on Mt. Hood on Oregon Live, and they don't always find missing climbers.
Click to expand...

I read that as well, that there are bodies in crevices that have never been recovered. That would be tough on families....
 
  • #639
A cell phone was found with the body that was filled with water. They are trying to dry it out to get information from it. They will not say who the climber that they found is. They want to get him down to be positively identified. One of the climbers that left was the was best one of the group. They were saying that they had the best chance because one of the them was the best climber, and for them not to be heard from at all, concerns them.
 
  • #640
MrsMush99 said:
A cell phone was found with the body that was filled with water. They are trying to dry it out to get information from it. They will not say who the climber that they found is. They want to get him down to be positively identified. One of the climbers that left was the was best one of the group. They were saying that they had the best chance because one of the them was the best climber, and for them not to be heard from at all, concerns them.
Click to expand...
That's odd, because the family has already been notified that it is James.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

LinasK
Hot dog helps Mt. Hood climbers survive cold
Replies
11
Views
2K
curious1
C

Members online

... and 114 more.
Total: 2,687 (members: 115, guests: 2,572)

Online statistics

Members online
115
Guests online
2,572
Total visitors
2,687
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
632,543
Messages
18,628,249
Members
243,192
Latest member
Mcornillie5484
Back
Top