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

[Liz]

<snip>Why would someone whose husband just passed away want to be interviewed on a TV program? This I do not understand.

I don't understand why people always have to question (and even scrutinize in some cases) other peoples' personal decisions and choices about such things.

(Was in a situation 20 years ago where a young family member was killed traumatically in an event that was broadcast extensively on the local news stations. Reporters called and wanted "family interviews" and also wanted to "film the funeral". Each of us thought that would be awful and said a loud and resounding "NO!" also, local police were informed so that no camera crews could be waiting at church or cemetery.)

That was your personal experience with your family's personal tragedy. Your family members had the opportunity to make their own choices with regards to interviews and the funeral. Don't you think that the Jameses are entitled to make their own decisions and choices with regards to media interviews pertaining to the death of their loved one, just as your family did?

Different strokes, you know ...?

 

[Hms]

I don't get it...it's barely been a week since they found Kelly and the family is going on talk/news shows? I would still be devastated, in shock and mourning. I mean they haven't even properly buried him yet!! How and why do these families do this?

That's the thing it's not your place to "get it" we can't possibly understand their rationale! Everyone handles grief differently! I'm sure they have their reasons, whatever they may be!

 

[RubyJune]

Everyone grieves in different ways. Some will deal with their grief silently and some need to talk. The Kelly's probably feel they will be hounded by the media anyhow so why not take the bull by the horns and get it over with. They seem like that type of a family to me.....they choose to mourn the death of their loved one by letting the world know what a fantastic person he was.

 

[Liz]

Thank you, Liz. I like the way you think. If this is what they want to do, so be it.

My daddy made it clear to me, when I was just a young girl. His way of reckoning such things was,
"Well honey, that's why they make chocolate AND vanilla." Simple enough for even a child to understand, yet so cleverly stated! IOW, 'to each their own'.

 

[IdahoMom]

I don't get it...it's barely been a week since they found Kelly and the family is going on talk/news shows? I would still be devastated, in shock and mourning. I mean they haven't even properly buried him yet!! How and why do these families do this?

It could be that they want to talk about him and share him with the world, so to speak. When I have lost people close to me, I have taken great comfort in reminiscing...it keeps them alive in a way. I have read before that this is a healthy thing to do.

 

[Hms]

My daddy made it clear to me, when I was just a young girl. His way of reckoning such things was,
"Well honey, that's why they make chocolate AND vanilla." Simple enough for even a child to understand, yet so cleverly stated! IOW, 'to each their own'.

Perfectly put!

 

[dark_shadows]

The families will pick who they speak to. Like it was said earlier in the week, any members of the media who hound the families will be shut off.
So the shows that the families will be on were the ones who abided by the families wishes.
Respectfully,
dark_shadows

 

[Liz]

Hi Dark -

That makes perfectly good sense to me! I, for one, am eager to hear what the family members have to say.

 

[dark_shadows]

Hi Dark -

That makes perfectly good sense to me! I, for one, am eager to hear what the family members have to say.

{{{Liz}}} it is a pleasure to see you.:blowkiss:


Respectfully,
dark_shadows

 

[Liz]

Always a pleasure to see you, too, dark! :blowkiss:

 

[poco]

Originally Posted by Hms
SNIP

How many of you eat fast food, smoke, and ride in a car without a seatbelt? I think you get my point, it is impossible to avoid risky behavior in this day and age, so please don't criticize these poor men's characters.

You forgot to add, "while on the cell phone with a tiny Yorkiepoo in your lap."

 

[Melisinde]

You know, many people who have never smoked... have gotten lung cancer. Some people who have smoked and had a couple of drinks every day... live well past 100.....

 

[Mygirlsadie]

The family is probably doing the interviews so the media will get the answers they want and will leave them alone then. As for what this SAR cost I truely believe there will be enough donations to cover it. Tis the season and Americans are very giving people. I wouldnt call the climbers selfish at all. If thats the case then when my son was born and sick and hospitalized for 5 months people could of called me selfish because my hotel stay and all meals laundry transportation etc.. was all paid for by outside sources..I guess I was selfish for wanting to have a baby. We all have hobbies we all make choices we all make mistakes. These guys are no diffrent then you and me.

 

[czechmate7]

Maybe it's because the family members are being hounded day and night by media people!

Or maybe they are thinking that since this story grew to global proportions, that people world wide were praying for their loved one(s), that they want to try to be as gracious as possible!

Why do people have to question *why*?

I wasn't questioning in a bad way. I'm not saying they shouldn't talk about it...because I agree, they were probably wonderful men with extrodinary lives and adventures and the family wants to share...I just can't fathom (and I know everyone is different!!) how they can get through the grieving on national tv. Maybe I should not have added the word *why*...

 

[Camper]

I cannot read anymore, this was a major sadness for the world to watch in its coverage.

Wonderful pictures of these sweet men. Now then to make folks think twice about climbing Mt. Hood in the dead of winter, how about a monument at all of the base areas, with pictures of ALL the men who have lost their lives previously.

I am assuming that there are no women who have lost their lives climbing Mt. Hood, don't know about whether that is true or not. I do believe that women have a greater appreciation for life, being the 'human beings' that bear the pain of birth.

I suspect that from the ashes of this coverage some nutcase will come forward with a NEW law covering something connected to this experience.

Rosie and whatshername, like to speak before they engage their brain mouth connection. Its not always WHAT Rosie says, but the way that she says it. Splat, there ya go this is da truth, duh. I only watch if I have accidently hit the wrong button.

IF IF the families of the men are OK with what their dads and husbands did, then we should just quietly go away.

A better question to be asked by St. Peter at the Golden Gate, would be, "Would you do this again, and are you sorry, OR?"

Wonder how all of the 100 folks who died climbing MH, would answer the same question?

.

 

[opme]

Maybe it's because the family members are being hounded day and night by media people!

Or maybe they are thinking that since this story grew to global proportions, that people world wide were praying for their loved one(s), that they want to try to be as gracious as possible!

Why do people have to question *why*?

I think as others have stated that we all handle grief differently. For some to not talk is to behave as if these loved ones didnt exist. They also could find it theraputic and cathartic to talk about these men. Many celebrate those lives rather than mourn their loss.. each of us will handle our grief differently. This may be the case here that each of these men grabbed life by the seat of the pants and lived each and every day to the fullest. To me it wouldnt reconile to have them pass away doing something so mundane as passing away in their sleep.. I suspect if they had had a choice it would have been to die as they did seizing the moment.. however I do suspect that they would not have chosen this moment in time. More likely put off the time until they were older.. however most of us dont want to face that inevitability. We dont have to agree or even understand the others way of handling their loss. But at minimum we should be tolerant of each other especially in this season.

 

[Pepper]

Hi Kahskye,
I read this on a link posted here, it is about the phone call Kelly made to his son;


link

He learned his dad was dug into a cave on the northern face of Mount Hood near the summit. Half an orange remained in his food supply, he was lying on his backpack to stay off the snow, and he was weak, cold and wet.
"He just said he was exhausted, and that's why he was stuck there," Jason James said.

The 48-year-old landscape architect offered "delirious" answers when asked about his climbing partners.

"He said Brian was in town looking for help and Nikko was on an airplane," Jason James said.

I'm still trying to grasp what went wrong. At first it was said that these 3 men were experienced climbers, and the note they left at the ranger station was interpreted to mean they had sufficient gear to last through a storm or 2. But then when the pictures were developed from the camera, the news reports said they were lightly equipped, and it was determined they couldn't have survived that long in the freezing weather.

It seems they didn't have sleeping bags to keep them warm, sufficient food (preferably dried to be light-weight - oranges are heavy!), and they didn't rent a $5 gps locator that could have saved their lives.

I am so sad for the families of these men to lose them so close to Christmas. I'm sure it will taint the holidays for them for many years to come.

If anything positive is to come from their deaths, I hope it will awaken other climbers to the dangers, and that they will be more prepared for the unexpected. There is no time of year that snow storms can't happen in the mountains. I'm in California, and I've seen snow fall in the Sierra's in July.

 

[sweetmop]

Your kind and caring spirit comes through in your posts, sweetmop. I have enjoyed reading them here. (I bet you make a great nurse! Kudos to you ... I think you're an endangered species.)

I think many of us following this (real-life) reality story were lead to believe that because these men were so highly experienced, strong and allegedly well-prepared, that this would end with a happy resolution. Sadly, that just didn't happen.

Hopefully, lessons will be learned, from which other climbers' lives may end up being saved. One thing imo is for certain ... always hope for the best, but be prepared for the very worst.

Thank you for the sweet compliment, Liz:blowkiss:

 

[sweetmop]

I find myself really disturbed with the thought that we live in the greatest country in the world (imo), yet, we are willing to spend trillions of dollars on weapons meant to take lives but people complain about the pale comparison of money we spend to save lives!

I also noticed people calling these men selfish, personally I find the families who stop their loved ones from doing the things that make them the happiest selfish! Like they always say,"live life to the fullest" that's what these men were doing. I can state with certainty that the people making these comments behave in a matter that they refer to as selfish. How many of you eat fast food, smoke, and ride in a car without a seatbelt? I think you get my point, it is impossible to avoid risky behavior in this day and age, so please don't criticize these poor men's characters.

Hms, I couldn't agree more. You can not put a price tag on human life. So many of us waste our lifes, afraid to take the challenge, afraid to speak up for what is right and honest, afraid to get involved. I bet none of these men were ever afraid of doing the right thing or of lending a helping hand when it was needed. I seriously doubt these 3 men had a selfish bone in their bodies. Just my humble opinions.

 

[RoughlyCollie]

An interesting article (opinion) by one of Kelly's friends:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...-knight_20edi.ART.State.Edition1.3de9b4f.html