Crews find body in mount hood climbers Pandora Charms
Australia
search Hughes said the body had not yet been identified. The
family members gathered in hood river had expressed optimism that the experience
and skills of the climbers and the dedication of the rescue workers would keep
the three alive despite blizzards packing 100 mph gusts that repeatedly hit the
mountain during the past week. Dwight hall, father of climber brian hall, told
reporters hours earlier that relatives of the three were going through a coaster
of emotions.And family members of the missing climbers had put their hands on
one of two blackhawk helicopters preparing to join the search and prayed. Frank
james, brother the homepage
here
of missing climber kelly james, 48, of dallas, said of the
helicopter pilots:The cheerleaders for these guys.Gathering offered cheers,
whistles and thumbsup as the choppers floated off the frosty tarmac and banked
left toward the mountain. The mood was far more somber after discovery of the
body. Hearts are going out to the families right now, said capt.Mike braibish,
spokesman for the oregon national guard. Braibish said the families had been
told there was a fatality but that the victim had not been identified. The body
was left on the mountain overnight because of darkness. Braibish said rescuers
came off the mountain last night to review the information they had before
planning for today. Remain hopeful, braibish said.Are going to still collect
information and pursue the rescue of the two other climbers.Sleeping bag, ice
axes and rope were found in the first snow cave, said another sheriff office
spokesman, sgt.Gerry tiffany. One week earlier, kelly james used his cell phone
to tell relatives that he, hall and fellow climber jerry cooke had gotten into
trouble near the summit, he was in a snow cave, and the two others were Nandora
on the way down to seek
help. Taking advantage of clear skies and a sharp drop in the wind, rescuers
focused on the first cave yesterday after a helicopter spotted a rope laid out
in a yshape, which climbers often use to signal their location. Footprints also
were found at the site.Tiffany said the prints appeared to head up the mountain
toward the summit some 300 feet above the first cave, but were blown out by the
wind at higher points. Conditions have been harsh since the three were reported
missing eight days ago, with heavy snow fall and wind gusts of up to 100 mph.The
snow stopped saturday, but winds up to 50 mph blew the fresh snow, hampering
visibility.Skies were clear yesterday, winds calm, and temperatures at the
summit were reported near zero. Searchers dug through the first cave to ensure
no one was there and took the equipment, which officials will examine for clues.
Tiffany said it clear that whoever stayed there down in the snow and they
survived there for a while.Knew what to do, they did it and they can do it
again, he said, holding out hope for the other two.