Beck Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 to get a litter thru the chinook's floor hatch it has to go in vertically. Glad to see the weather cleared enough to get the climber off via chopper, it would have been a long and difficult lower otherwise. Cheers to the rescuers, and best of luck to the climber. Quote
fear Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 Get me the name and address of that pilot. How much to ship a case of beer from CT to WA?.... Hmmmmmm. Good job everyone! And props to his partner that kept his shit together! -Fear Quote
Blake Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 I just heard on the news that he died at the hospital, or en route. Quote
Winter Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 My condolences to the family. It sounds like his P and the rescuers did everything they could. Quote
CascadeClimber Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 His kids are about the same age as mine. Sure brings things home. My thoughts and prayers to his children, wife, and the rest of his family. Kudos to his partner and all involved in the rescue effort. Very sad that such a herculean effort had such a tragic outcome. Peace all- L Quote
JoshK Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 God that is heartbraking. It's too bad the mountain just wouldn't let people up to help him. Quote
jefffski Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 heroic efforts by many to save a life. condolences to his family. Quote
mattyg Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 Rescued climber dies By The Associated Press AP Peter Cooley, left, and Scott Richards, right, are seen in this 2001 family photo. The two men, both from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, were stranded on Mount Rainier after Cooley was injured Saturday in a fall in Mount Rainier National Park. The climber rescued today from Mount Rainier has died, a Pierce County Medical Examiner's spokeswoman said this evening. This afternoon, an Oregon National Guard helicopter took advantage of a sudden break in the clouds to retrieve the man, who was seriously injured. The climbers were stranded at 12,300 feet since Saturday on a 45-degree slope with steep and rocky terrain above and below them, Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Lee Taylor said. "There couldn't be a worse place on the mountain to try to do a rescue; it's very extreme terrain," she said. Peter Cooley, 39, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, fell 30 feet early Saturday on Liberty Ridge — one of the most difficult routes up the 14,410-foot mountain. His climbing partner, Scott Richards, 42, also of Cape Elizabeth, was able to reach him, set up a tent and call for help on a cell phone. This afternoon, Cooley had been in stable condition but was exhibiting signs of a life-threatening head injury and also appeared to have shoulder and leg injuries, park ranger Patti Wold said. He was in and out of consciousness, incoherent and agitated. "When our climbing rangers approach him, he's able to sense that they are not his climbing partner, and he becomes combative," Wold said. The rangers, specialists in mountain rescues, set out Saturday afternoon but were held up by poor visibility. A helicopter was able to drop supplies to the climbers Sunday night, including a radio, food, water, warm clothing and sleeping bags. Richards had been keeping Cooley hydrated by dripping water into his mouth. An Oregon National Guard helicopter also tried to reach the stranded men this morning but failed due to heavy cloud cover. Eighteen rescuers were on the mountain. Both men were described as experienced climbers who had scaled Rainier before. In 2001, they tried to climb Liberty Ridge, but bad weather forced them to take an easier route. Cooley once worked on a search-and-rescue team on Mount McKinley in Alaska and climbed that mountain solo. This was his fourth ascent of Mount Rainier. "He's an excellent mountain climber," said Cooley's aunt, Kristi Witker of New York, earlier today. "All of us wanted him to stop mountain climbing, but he's very skilled at it, and it's his passion." Richards had climbed Mount Blanc and Mount Chamonix in the Alps. "These are experienced climbers in peak condition and this trip wasn't taken lightly, and the proof of that is the fact that Scott was able to get to Peter and protect him and they're hanging in there," a friend, Virginia Hanson of Cape Elizabeth, told the Portland (Maine) Press Herald. Mount Rainier, about 60 miles southeast of Seattle in the Cascade range, is a popular destination for hikers and mountaineers. Quote
iain Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 they're still up there, in unsettled weather. terrible news. Quote
Dr_Crash Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 That really sucks. Mountains are tough. I totally understand his aunt's quote. My uncle couldn't stop climbing either, until a mountain claimed his life and his guide's. Have a good thought for the survivors, guys. drC Quote
jon Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 This really sucks, sorry to the friends and family. Let's keep our thoughts with the brave people still stuck up there. Quote
Lambone Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 realy sorry to hear about this. Lib Ridge claims another... Quote
ivan Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 fuck! i really thought this one was going ot have a happy ending... Quote
ken4ord Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 I was so excited when I got home last night and saw the footage of Peter get pick off the mountain, that I made the assumption that things were going to be ok. Than later that night I got a call informing that Peter passed away. I just couldn't believe it. It was the farthest thing in my mind, I am still in shock. I hope everyone who was/is up on the mountain as part of the rescue make it back safely. Good luck and thanks for your efforts. Quote
sketchfest Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 WOW...I am stunned by this ending. I too thought everything was going to be alright when I watched the footage of the NG lifting him off the mountain. My entire family breathed a sigh of relief. My condolences to Peter's family and friends. Quote
Bug Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 The undeniable comes home to roost. My kids are that age too. And that is my favorite route on Rainier. My thoughts and prayers go to the family. Quote
HernyG Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 This one hurts (don't they all?). Peace to Peter's family of course, and also to Scott - we too know that passion. Quote
tomtom Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 My condolences to the family, friends, and rescuers. A sad day. - Tom Quote
NEWSTIPS Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 Scott was airlifted off the mountain this morning just before 10am. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Quote
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