Zeta Male

But isn't there an arrest technique involving the use of two axes, I believe?

Why do you think the cave that was found is on the south side? It wasn't; that was XXX speculating on what would've made the most sense for them to have done.

Similar to what I'm thinking; you've worked out the details.

I wondered that also. At some point earlier today, that was mentioned, that something like that could be an arrow. That was me, but I'm glad the issue's being talked about more thoroughly now - maybe these remarks will be seen by somebody in a position to consider additional possibilities beyond what's been assumed up to now - not that they aren't already - and make good use of them.

I'll take that bet if this is the same sheriff that waited til two days ago to give the Ranger station note to the rescue crews. Yeah, I was wondering about that too, why it took so long to release that information - I wonder what the deal was with that?

A fine, useful technical/equipment point.

Unless you're utterly unable to grasp an ice axe yuo wouldn't leave it - you need it to stop any "skids".

Apparently (http://www.oregonlive.com/newslogs/oregonian/) the sheriff is specifying "ice axes"; since, unfortunately, they have to deal with stuff like this all too often, I bet he knows what he's talking about.

The current view appears to me to show, as viewed from the SE, about a dozen people on the summit preparing to scan/descend the NF.

Who in the hell appointed you the moderator of this thread, Atreides/Nazi/jerk? This is my thread just as much as it is anyone else's. I want to see the technical comments because, in the future, when people want information about what happened on this climb and how to avoid the same problems in the future, this is where they'll look. Limiting technical commentary to some other thread in some other forum consigns them to obscurity and destroys the important immediacy factor of the vital lessons-to-be-learned aspect of all this. Frankly, all of you As-the-World-Turns gawkers need to go somewhere else - we don't need a half-dozen people transcribing the same CNN broadcast.

I've been getting the same thing - KGW's a waste of time.

This is the most idiotic, irrelevant remark I've seen in this entire thread.

I don't know why everyone's assuming it's a "Y" - it may have been intended as an arrow to indicate the direction they want people to go to find them.

Because there are a lot of neophyte climbers paying attention to this story who may not even know what questions to ask about the possible technological solutions available to avoid the potential calamities faced by the subjects of this very thread. Frankly, posts related to this one hold more benefit for the future than the electronic karma, Let's-all-hope-for-them-together stuff. Hope I've answered your question.

Another excellent, informative post - potentially a life-saver (as was the one about the importance of having a cell-phone with analog capability). I wasn't aware there were such things as portable HAM radios. The only people I know who are into HAM radios have a 20' mast on the side of their houses. Does an EPIRB have any advantages over an MLU? Maybe the MLU's just work at Mt. Hood, whereas the EPIRB's work worldwide? For those of you who want to reach out and touch someone just about anywhere on earth (whether you need to or not): http://www.cnet.com/4144-5_1-0.html?target=http://cnet.search.com/search?chkpt=astg.cnet.fd.search.cnet&query=satellite%20telephone&q=satellite%20telephone&tag=srch (the "Sponsored Links" section may be the best place to start).

I must say I'm very impressed with the lengths the missing guys took to let folks know what their plans were.

Excellent post, Mr. Bunch - I'm very grateful: it's been almost twenty years since I helped build a snow-cave for the first and last time, so the refresher is much appreciated - here's a web resource for others in need of same: http://www.etisurvival.com/snocv.htm

Oh, what pearls of wisdom from the destitute chiro-quack-ter-to-be. Sat-phone and GPS rentals by the missing climbing team might've avoided the serious risking of lives by numerous volunteer rescuers. Then again, their calling to say "Here's where I am and I need help" may not have yielded anything given the weather the rescuers have encountered. It may be a little harsh for the friends and relatives to read such but apparently there are climbers out there who think adherence to and publication of their own world-views are more important than showing some consideration for the lives risked and dollars spent picking up after you on a mountain that belongs to all of us.