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

[Buzz Mills]

Final episode of Everest Beyond The limit is highly dramatic--one climber had to leave another to die--They also showed some of the 200 bodies up there--terrible sight---The first double amputee,a man with no legs actually made it to the summit and got back safely--many others had to turn back at 28,000 feet, some frostbite is feared

10:00PM West Coast, 9:00PM Central on the Discovery Channel

 

[Taximom]

Every media outlet won't stop trying to get a piece of the grieving families. It used to be that grieving families could gain some privacy during times like this; not so, anymore. It's a different world these days, and it isn't all good.

I heard what dark_shadows heard just now and the reporter said media was calling the family members either "late" at night or "in the middle" of the night. Either one is horribly rude and if that continues they should be snubbed.

I just think it would be horrible to answer a phone call late at night thinking it might be an answer to prayer, only to find it's some producer or reporter asking for an interview.

 

[Buzz Mills]

The weather is going to turn ugly on Mt. Hood beginning late tonight; it was above freezing at the Magic Mile today at 7,000'; tonight will be freezing rain, turning to snow above 5,000'.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I heard what dark_shadows heard just now and the reporter said media was calling the family members either "late" at night or "in the middle" of the night. Either one is horribly rude and if that continues they should be snubbed.

I just think it would be horrible to answer a phone call late at night thinking it might be an answer to prayer, only to find it's some producer or reporter asking for an interview.

Each anchor, on each network, will take turns calling the families, attempting to strike a chord with some member of each family. There aren't any lines they wont cross in an attempt to draw viewers. They say it's all about the ratings. This was a pretty big story that tugged on a lot of our heartstrings. They want to capitalize on that magical draw.

 

[Taximom]

Each anchor, on each network, will take turns calling the families, attempting to strike a chord with some member of each family. There aren't any lines they wont cross in an attempt to draw viewers. They say it's all about the ratings. This was a pretty big story that tugged on a lot of our heartstrings. They want to capitalize on that magical draw.

Yeah, I know. It's their job, and there's people (like me) that would watch it. I still think they should let them rest at night at least!

 

[Buzz Mills]

Grim Clues Found on Dead Climber's Camera

PORTLAND, Ore. (Dec. 19) - It starts with mumbling and stumbling. Then come violent shivers and then, paradoxically, a false sense of warmth that makes some people strip their clothes off. Eventually, they may curl into a fetal position as their muscles go rigid, their skin goes waxy, and the heart slows down, then stops.

Whether two climbers missing on Mount Hood for more than a week are still alive is not clear. But if they are somehow still hanging on in the brutal cold and howling winds, perhaps hunkered down in a snow cave, they may be going through what veteran climbers say is a slow, dispiriting assault on both mind and body.

"We are approaching that time when we have to make serious consideration whether we are spinning our wheels," said Sheriff Joe Wampler, who is overseeing the search-and-rescue.

Rescuers returned to the 11,239-foot mountain on Monday to retrieve the body of 48-year-old Kelly James from the snow cave near the summit where he was found dead and to look for his companions, Brian Hall, 37, and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke, 36.

It was unclear whether they were swept off the mountain by 100 mph winds, were buried in last week's blizzards or created a shelter for themselves by burrowing into the snow and sharing their body heat, as climbers are trained to do.

Avalanche teams planned to use long poles to poke through the 10-foot-deep snow. And searchers in two planes flew over the mountain Tuesday, watching for signs of life.

Rescuers are hoping Hall and Cooke "stick their heads up out of their hole and rescue themselves. We want to be there to see that, if that happens," Wampler said.

But hopes of finding them alive dimmed after officials developed film in a disposable camera found in James' pocket. The pictures, taken as the men began their ascent, show the three had enough gear and provisions for a quick climb up Mount Hood but not for a longer period out in the elements.

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_...s/20061216144309990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001

 

[Lurker Steve]

They're going to re-air "Everest: Beyond the Limit" this Sunday on Discovery Times.

It's really worth watching... it's very sad that they had to leave the climber there to die, but there is literally nothing you can do.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Search turns a corner as hope for two climbers wanes

HOOD RIVER -- With searchers returning to their day jobs, helicopters back at their home bases and another storm blowing toward Mount Hood, officials are expressing little hope the search for two missing climbers will come to a happy end.

"For all intents and purposes, things are kind of wrapping up," said Portland Mountain Rescue's Steve Rollins, who was back at Nike on Tuesday in his first full day of work since joining the search more than a week ago.

While pointedly avoiding calling their mission one of recovery rather than rescue, search managers acknowledged that their work turned a corner Tuesday.

"The big search probably is over," Hood River County Sheriff Joe Wampler said. "We're approaching that time where we've got to make some serious consideration of whether we're spinning our wheels or not."

Texan Kelly James, 48, was found Sunday in a snow cave near the summit, and an autopsy is scheduled for later this week. Fellow Texan Brian Hall and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke of New York remain missing.

A skeleton crew of climbers remained at Cloud Cap Inn, their high-elevation staging area, but they were on standby, and the mountain essentially was empty above the tree line.

Searching Tuesday was limited to a few passes by two small Hood River County Sheriff's Office airplanes of an area between Newton Clark and Eliot glaciers where Hall, 37, and Cooke, 36, are thought to be.

Pilots also took two family members up in the planes for a brief tour of the area.

http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1166585109174210.xml&coll=7

 

[scandi]

I just watched it Steve, and it was so depressing. I could not believe all of the frostbite - the fingers and feet, cheeks and that man's stumps. Awful.

Watching the people climb down I only saw fatigued and slow moving climbers. They had been climbing for so long they had lost the joy of it all, at least to me that is what it portrayed. Yes there was zeal to summit, but like one guy said, after you summit, you realize you're only half done!

Pain and misery and having to pass a dying man or you too might die. Why would anyone choose this for their mission in life. It is simply beyond me.

This is just my opinion, but for that double amputee to make that trek, knowing he was going to have to rely on all of the climbers to get back either by one on one help or holding back everyone from their normal descent, it just blew my mind. What an egotist. I saw nothing astoundingly admirable about him. He made it back thanks to his fellow climbers and the paid sherpas. I can think of so many other ways to help the world than this form of self ego needing to be recognized. I'm learning I am becoming very opinionated!

Scandi

PS: The series starts over on Sunday night, and I think I'll watch it from the beginning. I saw the depressing part first.

 

[scandi]

Buzz, did you see the Sheriff's interview tonight on TV where he talked about being on the phone with Kelly's wife when Kelly was on the phone with his son? I don't know if that went national or not.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I just watched it Steve, and it was so depressing. I could not believe all of the frostbite - the fingers and feet, cheeks and that man's stumps. Awful.

Watching the people climb down I only saw fatigued and slow moving climbers. They had been climbing for so long they had lost the joy of it all, at least to me that is what it portrayed. Yes there was zeal to summit, but like one guy said, after you summit, you realize you're only half done!

Pain and misery and having to pass a dying man or you too might die. Why would anyone choose this for their mission in life. It is simply beyond me.

This is just my opinion, but for that double amputee to make that trek, knowing he was going to have to rely on all of the climbers to get back either by one on one help or holding back everyone from their normal descent, it just blew my mind. What an egotist. I saw nothing astoundingly admirable about him. He made it back thanks to his fellow climbers and the paid sherpas. I can think of so many other ways to help the world than this form of self ego needing to be recognized. I'm learning I am becoming very opinionated!

Scandi

PS: The series starts over on Sunday night, and I think I'll watch it from the beginning. I saw the depressing part first.

We all had to be impressed with the strength of the sherpas. There's something to be said about living at altitude. What they are able to accomplish is almost unbelievable. The head sherpa has summited ten times now, and is none the worse for wear and tear.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Buzz, did you see the Sheriff's interview tonight on TV where he talked about being on the phone with Kelly's wife when Kelly was on the phone with his son? I don't know if that went national or not.

I didn't see that Scandi.

 

[scandi]

Yes, it was amazing how the sherpas were naturally invigorated and full of life after that climb. I some some frostbite on one man's cheeks, but I think it is a continual condition that he has. I watched each sherpa at the end and was simply amazed.

That stupid climber who needed so much help and was about to die - planning on making the trek next year! I wanted to bop him in the head over the TV! LOL Stoopid son of a gun is a sucker for punishment I think. But if it weren't for the man who kept him awake and toddled him down the hill, he would never have been there to make that statement.

I came away from that show realizing we might all have our passions in life, but the grueling punishment has to be right up there with those who walk on nails for a living. Insane, and at least the guys walking on nails only do it for a short time and they are finished with it. Just like those guys in Spain who have the hooks attached through the flesh in their backs for some religious festival, to pull the cross up the road during an Easter celebration. Even though they have done it for generations going way back, it is absolutely insane IMHO.

Scandi

 

[scandi]

There will probably be an article about it in the Oregonian, but he acted as if he was sitting in his office on pins and needles on Sunday, talking to Kelly's wife and relaying info to Kelly through her as her son spoke to him. "Turn your phone off to preserve the batteries, and keep checking in with us" is what the Sheriff said. Said Kelly sounded fine - I don't know if he could hear his voice or not. But the search was underway, and Sunday was the day they could not do anything - waiting for the good weather on Monday, right? I bet that Sheriff was feeling his heart beat through every muscle in his body!

Scandi

 

[poco]

They're going to re-air "Everest: Beyond the Limit" this Sunday on Discovery Times.

It's really worth watching... it's very sad that they had to leave the climber there to die, but there is literally nothing you can do.

The quest to conquer a summit, especially Everest, so intrigues me, but you would never ever ever catch me attempting something like that. I'm too much of a wimp when it comes to cold weather!!!!

 

[izzyB]

Buzz, did you see the Sheriff's interview tonight on TV where he talked about being on the phone with Kelly's wife when Kelly was on the phone with his son? I don't know if that went national or not.

in one of the articles in the dallas morning news over the last several days (before the body was found) they did mention that when kelly called home and the son realized he was in trouble kelly immediately called the sheriff, and then karen in turn spoke to kelly to tell him they were all coming to get him.

this article also mentioned the sheriff initially told karen to tell kelly to turn off his cell phone to save the battery, and karen relayed this message to kelly. moments later the sheriff called karen back and told her to have kelly keep his cell phone on so they could get a location, but when karen called kelly back he had already turned off his phone.

 

[sweetmop]

Good Morning All! I'm really such a Big Pollyanna... I honestly believed this story would have a happy ending, fitting for a Christmas miracle. Today I feel so down as reality sets in. God bless those family members, think how they are feeling this morning! My resolution for 2007 is going to have to be lay off the news channels and newspapers, whew. I just got too emotionally caught up in this tragic story.

 

[LaMer]

I just watched it Steve, and it was so depressing. I could not believe all of the frostbite - the fingers and feet, cheeks and that man's stumps. Awful.

Watching the people climb down I only saw fatigued and slow moving climbers. They had been climbing for so long they had lost the joy of it all, at least to me that is what it portrayed. Yes there was zeal to summit, but like one guy said, after you summit, you realize you're only half done!

Pain and misery and having to pass a dying man or you too might die. Why would anyone choose this for their mission in life. It is simply beyond me.

This is just my opinion, but for that double amputee to make that trek, knowing he was going to have to rely on all of the climbers to get back either by one on one help or holding back everyone from their normal descent, it just blew my mind. What an egotist. I saw nothing astoundingly admirable about him. He made it back thanks to his fellow climbers and the paid sherpas. I can think of so many other ways to help the world than this form of self ego needing to be recognized. I'm learning I am becoming very opinionated!

Scandi

PS: The series starts over on Sunday night, and I think I'll watch it from the beginning. I saw the depressing part first.

I agree Scandi, it was so depressing! After viewing, I decided my horizons did not need to be broaded in that regard. OMG and then to hear, the dead could not be removed, but moved aside later, to remove them from the route! whew Maybe their love of the venture is so great, they believe they are invincible. If not, possibly some think it is better to climb and lose and be forever after in a place they love!

I don't know if it is their egos or what, and I guess everybody to their own, but after watching, golf looks good!

 

[IdahoMom]

I agree Scandi, it was so depressing! After viewing, I decided my horizons did not need to be broaded in that regard. OMG and then to hear, the dead could not be removed, but moved aside later, to remove them from the route! whew Maybe their love of the venture is so great, they believe they are invincible. If not, possibly some think it is better to climb and lose and be forever after in a place they love!

I don't know if it is their egos or what, and I guess everybody to their own, but after watching, golf looks good!

The beach isn't too shabby either.

So, the bodies will just remain on the mountain for all eternity? I am having images of decaying bodies in crevasses all over the mountain. :sick: Maybe they see this the way sailors look at dying and being buried at sea??

 

[Buzz Mills]

Good Morning All! I'm really such a Big Pollyanna... I honestly believed this story would have a happy ending, fitting for a Christmas miracle. Today I feel so down as reality sets in. God bless those family members, think how they are feeling this morning! My resolution for 2007 is going to have to be lay off the news channels and newspapers, whew. I just got too emotionally caught up in this tragic story.

sweetmop, that's a great resolution. If we spend our time emotionally involved in remote minute-to-minute dramas happening to others, as they unfold, dramas that we can't possibly do anything about, then we probably aren't fully living, and experiencing, our own lives, as we should be. This is not so unlike many others being addicted to soap operas.