Oakland climber found dead on Mount Shasta

[tonysam]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

An Oakland man who fell ill after he and a climbing partner reached the top of Mount Shasta was found dead today in a snow cave near the summit, officials said.

Tom Bennett, 26, was found at 9:15 a.m. in the cave where his climbing partner left him Saturday after Bennett began suffering from altitude sickness and fell unconscious, officials said.

Bennett, a chemical engineer, and 26-year-old Mark Thomas of Berkeley set out to climb the mountain March 25 and reached the 14,162-foot summit Saturday, Thomas told officials.

He said that after the pair began their descent, Bennett suffered sudden and extreme symptoms of altitude sickness and became unresponsive within minutes.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/01/BAFB1COHL4.DTL

[Earth_First]

1. How unfortunate. n/t

[depakid]

2. HACE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_altitude_cerebral_edema

[kestrel91316]

6. Also HAPE.

[depakid]

7. Yep- but this one apparently came on and killed very quickly

There's almost some Acute Mountain Sickness symptoms prior to HAPE or HACE, but some climbers are too determined to summit to abide by them and turn back.

I ended up with AMS on the Owen Spalding route on Grand Teton, descending with a searing headache, nausea and some vertigo on very exposed faces.

Not something I'd repeat.

[bemildred]

3. Awful young, but I can think of worse ways to go.

RIP in any case.

[Bryn]

4. I had no idea that high altitude could cause death

R.I.P., Tom Bennett

[pasto76]

8. sure can. AMS can hit anyone, at any time.

folks in tip top condition are usually resilient enough to spare them the worst. On my mountain rescue team, most of us have been hit with AMS at one time or another. One member had been high altitude mountaineering and mountain rescue for almost 20 years. We were out on a routine track down the off trail hiker and whammo, he became pretty sick.

We're guessing this was HACE or HAPE. The only thing you can do for that is descend as quickly as possible. With only climbing partner, that would be hard. As always hats off to the rescue personnel (especially the volunteers).

www.mra.org

[kestrel91316]

5. I got altitude sickness with nausea and headache on a too-rapid ascent

in the Sierras about 20 years ago. I was barely able to summit (Langley) but then we started descending right away so it didn't get any worse.

NOT a happy situation.

If you get it hyperacutely and can't get down the mountain, it's a killer.

[demosincebirth]

9. Why would anyone, in the dead of winter, go climbing Mt Shasta is beyond me.

[kestrel91316]

10. Well, the end of March is not "the dead of winter" in the PNW. And snow climbing

is best done in the cold. I have gone snow climbing in too-hot spring weather and it made for some extremely dangerous, unstable conditions.

[demosincebirth]

17. Well, they were forecasting a blizzard in two days before they left.

[PavePusher]

11. I climbed (well, more like slogged) up Mt Fuji about 15 years ago...

On New Years day with my father. We camped over night at about 9500'. Most excellent winter trip ever.

[CountAllVotes]

16. it is a stupid idea

it is never recommended. Lots of spirits up there on top. :scared:

:dem:

[TankLV]

19. Can you say DUMB AS ROCKS - I certainly can...

[Ian David]

12. I blame The Lizard People.

http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm459067.html

[lunatica]

13. One of my work mates knows him and his fiancee.

We heard of the situation the day before. They couldn't send a rescue party or helicopters because it was storming. It's sad.

[tonysam]

14. More details

They headed down Avalanche Gulch immediately, but Bennett's condition deteriorated quickly and soon he could no longer walk, Thomas said.

The winds shifted and picked up, so Thomas helped Bennett back to their mountaintop camp. He called 9-1-1, but had provided few details to potential rescuers before his phone batteries failed in the cold.

Thomas reinforced the snow cave as the winds howled and clouds gathered. He pulled Bennett into the shelter, but his condition continued to worsen and he lapsed into unconsciousness. Thomas attempted CPR, but feared that his friend was dead, the sheriff's report said.

By Monday afternoon, Thomas realized he could do nothing more for Bennett. He warmed his phone and made one more 9-1-1 call, reporting his concerns about Bennett and telling authorities that he was coming down the mountain while he still could.

Medford Mail Tribune

[CountAllVotes]

15. John Muir had poor luck climbing Mt. Shasta as well

damn near died oh yes he did. Was left with permanent damage to his feet from frostbite.

Walk around and around but never on top (wakanuni tuki wuki = Shastan for "walk around and around but never on top") ...




:dem:

[TankLV]

18. Ahh yes - go hiking IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER for the "thrill" of it.

he must lead a pretty boring life if he had to find his jollies by doing stuff like this...

Sorry - he got just what he deserved...

I'll save my concern for all those who need JOBS but can't find any to support themselves or their families!

One less breeder to propagate his genes...

A darwin award winner for sure...