Anything is possible with old footprints in snow.
I am not trying to shoot you down. I am trying to be optimistic eventhough I am not.
I agree with someone else. Some who doesn't have the presence of mind to talk coherently did not dig two snow caves and pick which gear to leave.
I think the first cave with the "Y" is a rope and boulard. like most of you pointed out. They dug it the 1st cave, tried to rap out. Couldn't, came back and went to plan B. Get Kelly in the easier ground and get down. That didn't work, let's dig in here and wait.
you know what happened then.
Let's try to get down now, it is letting up.
It picks up again....
I don't think us talking about senarios is a bad thing. I think they were studs and did it all right. But we all know there is still a gamble involved.
If you all want me to quit with this I will. But it is nice to bullshit with others who know there shit.
This sucks. I hate seeing other climbers die.