Breaking: Air search yields pair of climbers on north side (Mt. Hood)

[depakid]

Air search yields pair of climbers on north side

Searchers on a Black Hawk helicopter spotted two unidentified climbers at 9,200 feet on Mount Hood this morning, a discovery that has sent search teams scrambling to figure out if the pair are the lost men.

The men were spotted about 11 a.m. from the air near Tie In Rock. Searchers did not know if the men are recreational climbers who are either unaware of a climbing ban on Mount Hood today or ignored the order. The men did not wave or signal to the helicopter.

According to radio chatter about the discovery, one searcher said: “What I see is two guys about 500 yards off of Tie In Rock, sort of in the middle of the slope. Looks like one guy is standing over the top of a guy who is prone on the snow.” If the men turn out to be unrelated to the search effort, their discovery has been distracting to the dozens of searchers scaling the mountain today in what is a major push to find three climbers who have been lost for more than a week.

<snip>

Meanwhile, the first of six rescue climber groups ascending the south face cleared 10,000-foot elevation by 11:15 a.m. only to encounter white-out conditions and high winds. They immediately dug snow caves for cover.

More and a second related story at the link: http://www.oregonlive.com/newslogs/oregonian/index.ssf?/mtlogs/olive_oregonian_news/archives/2006_12.html#216349

[originalpckelly]

1. Thanks depakid!

:hi:

[Mz Pip]

2. Now they are reporting

that there is no sign of the climbers and they have to call off the search due to more bad weather.

Damn it.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[depakid]

3. What a lot of people don't understand

including (or maybe especially) the fools on local "news," is that the mountain generates its own weather- so while it may be reasonably clear and calm in the valleys and even on the lower slopes- once you get to altitude things change very fast and unpredictably.

Hopefully, the search can resume again tomorrow and the climbers have all taken shelter.

[lindisfarne]

4. oregonian dot com is reporting that nothing came of this; also, rescuers have been called down due

to weather. (added a source: http://www.oregonlive.com/newslogs/oregonian/index.ssf?/mtlogs/olive_oregonian_news/archives/2006_12.html#216361 )

[depakid]

5. Report of discovery of two climbers is unfounded

Sorry about this, guys. Crow is what one often gets for passing along rumors from the Oregonian.

Here's a photo of where they're searching and what they're up against: