iancurtis

The sheriff states today that there really was only one "snow cave" - the place where the gear was found sounds more like a belay station with a windbreak cut. "there was an anchor, with a snow cave - and it's more like a shelter, it wasn't a good snow cave like the first one they built, where the body is. It's another one that they - it's more like a place that they cut out of the snow on a steep hillside, to work from because it had an anchor right there - it had two aluminum snow anchors driven in the snow with some webbing, which only told us that while they were there they put something in the snow so they could clip in and be safe because there's two slings coming off that, which kinda indicates that two people used their carabiners to clip into the rope, for the purpose of just being stable, on a steep slope on the mountain. " They wouldn't need two pickets to rappel, so maybe one was downclimbing while the other belayed him tied into that anchor. But that doesn't explain where they went, and why they didn't take their pickets. Perhaps someone who saw the place where they found the gear firsthand can clarify this.

It's also a shame that people with no experience or concept of climbing or alpinism come to the website after finding a link on a news site, and spout off nonsense. There are a lot of routes on Mt. Hood. Not climbing the south route does not demonstrate irresponsibility. Why didn't they just walk up Pike's Peak? Why didn't they go to their local gym? Why didn't they stay home and watch TV? They obviously paid attention to the weather forecasts, as their planned for an ascent on two clear days that would beat the weather. We don't know the full story as to why they did not make it. It appears someone may have been injured. It's shame they couldn't predict the future, either. Celebrating any feats of alpinism means accepting concomitant risks necessary to achieve them. If you are offended by people taking risks, you have a lot of websites you need to visit and post ignorant messages to. Better get going. To the three on the mountain, there's brewskis waiting down at the Mt. Hood Inn. To Crag Rats and PMR and the rest, you guys rule. Go kick some mountain ass and bring the boys back.

Zigzag can't be seen from the angle in this photo - it is on the south side.

I took an ice climbing course from Yamnuska this summer in which Barry was the guide. Superb guy. Unassuming, not at all arrogant, and sure as heck knows his stuff.