Ruedi

No disrespect at all. My point is that these guys are no rookies and I was trying to point that out. I'm sorry if I was not clear.

Bryan was considering this as preparation for Everest. Nothing more needs to be said about their abilities except that they definitely are experts and probably better than the SAR guys looking for them.

The current group of SAR should be totally spent and not ready to go again at 4 am. If you left from 6000 feet then do the math 10600 minus 6000 = 4600 feet times two of vertical climbing with lots of weight. I'm sure they are completely wiped out. I wonder if a second wave of people are gearing ready to leave in 12 hours? We need a sunny blue bird day of weather tomorrow, please o please.

The temperature in the snow cave can be above freezing due to body heat and quite comfortable. You can go for weeks without food. You can only go for about three days without water. They have plenty of water. The biggest worry is where they built their snow caves. Are they in the line of avalanches? Were they subject to the winds? etc.

These guys are very smart. If it was me what is the thing you are tought as a kid when you get lost? Hug a tree. I hope they are obeying this because who would know more about the avalanch danger then Bryan, Niko and Kelley. Stay put and wait for the rescuers. Self rescue is just too dangerous right now and it would be what I was thinking right now. Anyone who is a mountaineer and listened to the roar of the weather and avalanches would know that it's safer to stay put than to move right now. They could have survived the storm only to be hit by the remaing built up snow. What do you guys think? Am I thinking wrong or just looking for the positive?

The news conference just said no climbers seen. Dam. My question is why the UH60's can't ferry up SAR to cut the climb time down. It take too long to climb up and now the crews are going down. They only made it up to 10600 on the south side so the search is by air. The C130 will fly 24-7 so comes on Bryan, Niko, and Kelley show some skin! The C130 is using infra red cameras looking for heat signatures.

OK I didn't go away. Badbill said he was climbing a SS route which would be a south side. The news report is for north side sighting. Great news. OK I'm out of the way now. Thank you all.

Just talked to ZigZag Ranger district regarding plans for climbing this weekend. Weather forecast is looking relatively decent and we had planned for the regular bivy at Triangle Moraine area Sat nite w/ SS summit Sun AM. Ranger checked w/ boss if we would be allowed to proceed. Replied they won't prevent us, even if search activities continue. He suggested current avalanche danger is high, also requested we call ZigZag station w/ sitreps. Given the predicted weather improvement for Sat/Sun, including colder temps, we feel avalanche danger may be acceptable for SS route. Probably SAR teams, if search is still underway, will have been and gone by the time we lug the basecamp up to 9500'. We feel bad for the missing climbers and have great respect for those searching. Sorry I said I was off. This is the guy from portland that said he was climbing today. badbill from a while back.

I'm off this board to make room for more important posters like family and first hand knowledge folks. I'm out and keep praying please!

Yes I saw the same post yesterday and my fear is it is they. The guys may have not gotten the word about the closure. I hope it is not them and it is Bryan and Niko who the chopper is seeing. If it was B and N you would think they would wave to the chopper. One prone in the snow with the other over him makes me wonder. It's amazing how this information is so true but so false in a lot of ways.

Sorry Elleth. I just saw it on orgeonlive.com. Sorry for my horrible spelling. I'm just thinking faster than my keyboarding can handle. Thanks for the relay.

jfmctlaw I do the same. I turn off the GPS when in town just because big brother is watching, not that I worried it just wierd to know someone can track you everywhere. My frequented climbing places have no cell service so I carry an EPIRB and a HAM radio for my self rescue/communication solution. Good point. Where is Lleth getting his info? I'm skeptical because the News doesn't have anything yet.

Wow! Fantastic! Still holding my breath! Please post often and furiously. I have tears on my keyboard.

Any news on the two guys the Chopper saw at 9200 feet? As for the Cell Phone Kelley James has; search was trying to get him to dial 911 because that engages the GPS positioning function of the phone to declare his coordinates to the Cell Tower. They did this by sending him a text message to dial 911. He obviously didn't get the message. This is something for all of us to learn. Dial 911 and text messaging works when voice doesn't! Any more details please rely to us anxious worried public.

Anybody heard anything about any Cell Phone pings or contacts? This would be the first thing I would be checking is when the Mountaneers realize the weather has cleared now would be the time to turn on the previous battery saving stategy. Also are any of you SAR guys monitoring tac frequencies? This would be a help far monitoring their progress. You're right. The advance teams should be up by now figuring out how to deal with the cornices and not bringing avi's down on their other team members. God Speed!

I agree with whichever SAR guys said the "boots on the ground" need to have the and all the information so they know what they are dealing with. The best indicator if I was in a snow cave on this mountain is to hear a C-130 buzzing overhead. Nothing could be more encouraging than the sound of those four turbojets. I hope and pray that this will give them the strength to hold on! If Kelley is turning off or turned off his Cell Phone than that would be a sign of a very smart man. Wow what a story. I can't believe I have to sit here and can't help, frustrating to say the least. This will make me think twice the next time I'm climbing. This reminds me of the Michelle Vanek lost climber all over again. Come on guys today is the day to climb down!!!!

Why did they just now find the climbers note at the ranger station? You would think they would have checked that one first. Strange and unfortunate but great news. I'm new but a regular on 14ers and summitpost.