luzi3

twocents, from what I have deduced, Sean is one of the rescuers. I think he probably has a good frame of reference for any speculation that he makes and I think most of us are interested in hearing the educated guesses of people who have actually been on the scene of the rescue attempts and know more about it than the rest of us.

With all due respect, it sound to me like Kelly was very responsible. If all had gone as planned, they would have been down from that mountain before the weather got bad. It was an injury that held them up, unfortunately, until the weather got too bad for them to get down safely. They had planned extensively for this trip, had left notes about the route they planned to take, had traveled lightly but were well equipped so they could get up and down the mountain quickly. But unforeseen things prevented that from happening, things they didn't anticipate. They were all experienced climbers; they knew what they were doing. Any one of us could be caught in an unforeseen situation that would take us from our children when we walk out the door each day. There are parents who in their line of work risk their lives every day. It doesn't mean they don't love their kids. I don't think this is the time to second guess the climbers. They found themselves in an unfortunate circumstance even though they had planned carefully.

I am very grateful to be able to come here and lurk and learn. There was so much I didn't understand (and still don't) about mountain climbing, the logistics of it all, the equipment needed, the passion behind it. I have learned so much here. I head read here and searched google for things I was unfamiliar with (such as bivy gear - had never heard of that!). This forum could be a closed forum with access only to members who are climbers, but I feel fortunate that I have gotten to take a glimpse into your world. And that now I have an understanding of why you climb and why the three Mt Hood climbers were up there. What a feeling that must be. And I must say, I feel inspired too. What good is sitting in my home office all day every day, eating dinner, watching TV and going to bed, and doing it all again tomorrow? For the rest of my life? Until I die? Better to find something you love, and DO it. Just like those three climbers and so many of you here are doing.