Fowler, Boskoff Missing in Tibet

[cj001f]

http://www.alpinist.com/doc/ALP18/newswire-charlie-fowler-christine-boskoff-missing-tibet

 

Renowned American climber Charlie Fowler and high-altitude mountaineer Christine Boskoff have gone missing in Tibet. The pair had been on expedition since the autumn, and had managed the first ascent of the oft-attempted Yala Peak in early October. Fowler had written an email on November 7 that read, "We're in the town of Litang for a few days.... getting ready for one more trip into the hills. We just got back from attempting a peak I tried in '96 doing a film. Didn't make it that time due to complications with the film crew. This time the peak was a lot less icy (global warming?)... we got near the top but backed off due to scary conditions—thin snow over rock slabs. Had a blast climbing as far as we did, though. 'We did our best with dying,' to quote Chris. Now off to one more different area to try a 6000-meter peak and a smaller one, then traveling back doing the tourist thing."

 

The pair traveled to Tibet's Genyen area November 9 and were due to return November 25. Several files discovered on Fowler's computer show that he had a clear intention to head south to Dechin to attempt an unnamed, 6509-meter peak. The hike into this peak would take two days from Dechin and is therefore a feasible objective given the amount of time they had left before their December 4 flight home.

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When Fowler and Boskoff failed to return to the United States December 4, a cautionary note was raised among friends. In the time since, the concern has focused on developing a search team and strategy. American climber Jon Otto, who has extensive experience in the area, has been retained to lead the efforts.

 

The search leaders sent a team to Litang on December 14 to investigate the town for clues about the Ameicans, but found no information regarding any stays in local hotels. It is possible Fowler and Boskoff stayed with a family or in a farmer's field; Boskoff had also cited a monastery at the base of the 6200-meter Genyen, so searchers are also considering this location.

 

The U.S. Consulate General has asked the provincial Foreign Affairs Office to coordinate a search with the local foreign affairs office and local police. They have sent two groups around the town of Litang to ask if anyone remembers seeing the Americans, and are checking with hostels, monasteries, bus stations, and the Litang Climbing Association. They have also requested more specific information about their travel plans and when they would gone to climb the mountain.

 

As of December 11, the weather was reported as -10 degrees C, with no recent unusual weather activity. The chief of Zhangla, the last village before Genyen, was contacted December 9, but said that no climbers had been known to go recently to Genyen. The Sichuan Mountaineering and the Ganzi Mountaineering associations have also been contacted, but as no climbers had registered for a climbing permit, no information was forthcoming from this source.

 

A blog has been launched to provide information about the search: http://fowlerboskoff.blogspot.com/

 

All expenses associated with the Fowler-Boskoff search effort are at this moment not covered, so Telluride Mountainfilm has opened a new account under its non-profit umbrella to accept tax deductible donations. The account is titled The Fowler-Boskoff Search Fund. It is a Wells Fargo account and the account number is 1736253632. All checks should be made to Mountainfilm in order to qualify for tax deductibility.

 

Checks can be deposited at Telluride's Wells Fargo drop box next to its ATM in the Wintercrown Building breezeway or at the Wells Fargo branch in Mountain Village. Checks should reference the account name and/or number.

 

Checks will also be accepted at the Mountainfilm office at 109 East Colorado Avenue (above The Toggery) or may be mailed to Mountainfilm, PO Box 1088, Telluride, CO 81435.

 

The Wells Fargo routing code for in-coming wires to the Fowler-Boskoff Search Fund is 121000248.

 

As friends wrote this morning, "Lets hope [Chris and Charlie] are happily seeking nirvana and drinking chang with Buddhist monks in [the monastery at head of the Genyan valley], waiting for the weather to break.

[Weekend_Climberz]

Now here's one I wouldn't mind the media picking up. My best wishes to them and the family for their safe return. :tup: :tup:

[rob]

I'll definitely have to throw a few bucks their way. Thanks for the link.

[Stefan]

Thank you. I hope you well Christine.

[Gary_Yngve]

Two summers ago, Baldwin and I returned to the Index LTW parking lot exhausted and sweating like dogs. Christine and Alasdair had just wrapped up their day and offered us cold beers.

 

Here's to hoping Charlie and Christine are ok.

[Marko]

Ahh, crap.

[JosephH]

Damn, this is getting to be a total drag - it's been a really harsh 2006. I don't know Christine, but did shared a rope with Charlie a couple of times back in the day and she must have no shortage of moxie if she's hanging out with him. We'll really be losing a character in Charlie if he doesn't wander back on to the scene and no doubt Christine would be greatly missed as well.

[rob]

CNN is running the story now.

 

Except they refer to it as "China," not as Tibet. Bastards.

[cj001f]

Except they refer to it as "China," not as Tibet. Bastards.

 

No surprise, eh?

 

http://www.charliefowler.com/ or http://charlieontheloose.blogspot.com/

if you've not heard of Charlie

 

And

http://www.mountainmadness.com/about/staff.cfm

if you've not heard of Christine

 

 

[Gary_Yngve]

Another piece on Christine:

http://www.mountainmadness.com/news/rockice04.cfm

[Alasdair]

Two summers ago, Baldwin and I returned to the Index LTW parking lot exhausted and sweating like dogs. Christine and Alasdair had just wrapped up their day and offered us cold beers.

 

Here's to hoping Charlie and Christine are ok.

 

That was a fun day out. And it was Chris that supplied the beers. Heres hoping they stopped in a monestary and found religion and choose not to come back for a while.

[kjclimbing]

Heard about this on the radio this morning. Bummer that NPR had to give Krakauer a plug on his book when reporting this story. They referenced Christine working for the same company as Scott Fischer, yada, yada, yada.

 

Perhaps I'm getting old but it seems that over the past 12 months the amount of higher profile accidents and individuals has spiked. Is the news of these things reaching farther given the variety of media outlets including forums, blogs, etc? Just an observation

[SFDukie]

'99 Seattle PI article on Chris Boskoff