SkagitQueen

Update: Wyatt (the dog) was found safe & sound in Kelowna.

My friend's dog is missing. Here is the post from the Vancouver craigslist: "My truck was stolen from a parking lot in Squamish, BC with my dog inside. He is a 95 pound chocolate lab. His name is Wyatt which is on his tags. He has bright Yellow eyes. He's almost 3 years old and he is very mellow and loving. The truck was stolen from the base of the Apron at the intersection of Mamquam road and HWY 99. It is a Silver 2002 Dodge Ram Diesel with a Dark green canopy. The truck had bikes on it, but they are likely gone. The license plate is B95011L. I can pay up to $1000 for information that leads to the safe return of Wyatt. If you see Wyatt or the truck, please call the Squamish RCMP and email me." <7c2dk-3891009497@comm.craigslist.org> http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/pet/3891009497.html If you have any info, please contact him or the RMCP. Thanks for reading.

To access a copy of the .pdf, go here: http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=9929.0

Dragged over from the first thread:

A thread has been created for Kevin at: http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/796814/Main/796814/#Post796814 The above thread is for those that have been following Kevin's story and want to share their stories, pay him tribute or support his family. If you want discuss the incident, the following search effort, SAR practices, etc. please continue on this thread here. I have created a flyer listing his gear and description for posting at trailheads, bulletin boards, stores etc. It is in .pdf form- when I figure out how to convert it to .jpg or .gif, I will post it here. Thanks.

This thread is for those that have been following Kevin's story and want to share their stories, pay him tribute or support his family. If you want discuss the incident, the following search effort, SAR practices, etc. please continue on this thread: http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/793883/fpart/1 or start your own. Below is a message from Ryan LaFluer, Kevin's brother: ******************** Hello Everyone, I wanted to send you all an email before I leave Washington today. I just really wanted to thank everyone for helping with the search efforts and keeping my family in your thoughts and prayers. My family and myself don't know how to thank you all enough. Many have been asking about a memorial service. A memorial service will happen in Washington but probably not for another month or two. Exact timing to be determined. As some of you might know, my father is going through chemotherapy for cancer (keep him in your prayers). His doctors will not let him travel until he completes his treatment. My parents would really like to come out to Washington to meet everyone and take part in the memorial services so we have decided to hold off on the service for a month or two. Although this week was one of the hardest ones of my life, I was able to get through it by being with all of you and hearing your stories of Kevin. It gave me great joy to hear your stories of how Kevin touched your lives and others. It was really hard for my parents not to be out here and meet you all and hear your stories. I tried to write them down but can't do them justice. In order to share these stories with my parents, I am creating a book for them and need your help. Please send me an email to lafleurfamily08@yahoo.com with the following: *A picture of you (with Kevin if you have one) *Your name *How you know Kevin or met him *A story of experience you had with Kevin I don't have everyone's email address so feel free to forward this email to anyone I missed or those who would like to participate in sharing their story about Kevin. This book will be something my parents will really enjoy. Thanks again for all of your support and prayers. I look forward to seeing you all again in a few months at his memorial service. God Bless, Ryan ************************* For my own part, I first met Kevin when I was "pushing 'biners" at a small retail climbing shop in Seattle. He was in to buy his first avy beacon. We got to talking, (due to that genial, enthusiastic talent that Kevin had for drawing people out) and soon realized that we had a shared passion for the mountains and teaching. I told him about the graduate residency program I had gotten into, little realizing that several years later I would encounter him in our learning community when he signed up for that same program himself. As time passed, I came to admire Kevin's athleticism, enjoyed his passion for history, lichens, science, teaching and discovery, and counted myself lucky to know another person who was willing to go climb great distances just for the heck of it. Now he is part of that pastiche of collective memories, photos, videos and stories that make Komo Kulshan far bigger than its physical bulk. Godspeed Kevin, see you someday. -Megan

This is a post from Amy Brown, a friend of Kevin's who has been coordinating search efforts: This is the latest update I have on the search for Kevin LaFleur. Early Sunday morning, approximately 30 volunteers and 8 snowmobiles gathered up the Glacier Creek Road. There were several groups searching down low, a group that formed a base camp at about 7,000 feet, and many volunteers who helped ferry equipment and supplies up to the base camp. A group led by Timothy Terpstra attempted to summit Mount Baker yesterday (Monday) morning but were forced to turn around due to whiteout conditions. However, two groups – a group of 10 and a group of 2, both unconnected from the search effort, did manage to summit successfully on Sunday. They reported nothing unusual at the top. It was found that any avalanches seen (near Colfax Peak and the Coleman Headwall) have since consolidated and are covered with a hard glaze and are thus nearly impossible to search. The base camp group decided to come out yesterday. Everyone made it home safely. At this point, there are no additional coordinated search efforts planned. If anyone goes up and has any news, please post updates here. In honor of Kevin’s love of the wilderness, we ask anyone planning to operate a snowmobile in the wilderness area for further search efforts to please consult with the Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest for clearance. Many, many thanks to the snow machine drivers who contributed their time, skill, gas and machines to the search effort. Your help was invaluable and greatly appreciated. May the snowshoers, boarders and skiers never have to return the favor, but if you call, we will come. We’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to the search or offered assistance. This has been an incredibly difficult process and we want Kevin’s family and friends know that we think of them now and will continue to remember them, and Kevin, each and every time we go into the mountains.

I am posting this message for Amy Brown, a friend of Kevin's: Hello all, I just got off the phone with Kevin's brother, Ryan, and he is seeking to mobilize any volunteers to help search on Sunday. The forecast for Sunday is mostly sunny, our first longer break in several days. I also spoke with Deputy Mark Jilk (Whatcom Sheriff); SAR operations have officially been suspended and will probably remain suspended unless any signs are seen via helicopter. However, multiple helicopter agencies/companies have offered to conduct routine flights everyday as weather permits. First and foremost we don't want anyone else getting hurt or into trouble. Experienced snowmobilers and mountaineers only are sought. You must have appropriate mountaineering skills, knowledge, experience and gear- beacon, shovel, and probe are mandatory. Tim Terpstra is planning to establish a base camp up high and stay up there as long as the weather window holds (2-3 days?). He is seeking volunteers who could just help ferry extra supplies (food, fuel, etc.) up to the base camp. So bring extra supplies, as well, regardless of if you're planning to stay the night. Snowmobilers in particular would be extremely helpful in helping to ferry people up to higher areas. Depending on the number of snowmobile volunteers, there is an excellent chance that you will have to hike all the way in along the Glacier Creek road- anticipate and prepare accordingly. We also want to be extremely cautious regarding snow conditions and numbers of people heading up to higher areas. Jilk said a major avalanche was reported off the Coleman headwall that probably slid in the last day or so. Again, we don't want anyone else getting hurt or into trouble. Avalanche danger may be high on Sunday. If you are interested in volunteering and have the skills, knowledge, experience and gear, please email me. It is preferred that you not just head up there on your own, but that you meet at the predetermined meeting place and time on Sunday morning. We want to avoid having this turn into mass chaos and someone else getting hurt. Ryan will get in touch with me Saturday afternoon with a time and meeting place – anticipate 6am in Glacier. I will then forward this information to anyone I've heard back from. As email is more efficient, I prefer that, but I will not be able to check email until after 3pm or so Saturday afternoon. This is not an officially coordinated SAR operation, so we're trying to do the best we can (though I did talk to the Sheriff about this). If you have radios to contribute that would be excellent. Cell phones should work up high as well. Thanks very much. We appreciate any and all efforts and interest to help out. Be safe and in hope, Amy

I heard that there will be passes to Whistler & K2 Coombas up for auction...

Many goods to be found here! Backs, beacons, bindings, K2 boards and skis, gear from Ortovox, Black Diamond, G3, Backcountry Access, Lifelink, Feathered Friends plus tons of goods from local folks like Backcountry Essentails, Glacier Ski Shop, One Mountain. Ask anyone who bought raffle tickets at Powderwhore how big they scored....