catfishjon Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 doesnt sound good... A rescue coordinator says the body of one of two U.S. climbers missing for more than a month has been found on remote mountain in southwestern China, The Associated Press reports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catfishjon Posted December 27, 2006 Author Share Posted December 27, 2006 from cnn... BEIJING, China (AP) -- The body of a U.S. climber missing for more than a month has been found on a remote mountain in southwestern China while a second climber is still missing and presumed dead, a rescue coordinator said Wednesday. Christine Boskoff, a top female climber, and Charlie Fowler, a well-known climber, guide and photographer, were reported missing after they failed to return to the United States on December 4. "They don't know which body yet. The rescuers were told to take pictures without disturbing anything. They will go back up in the morning with shovels," said Arlene Burns, a friend of both climbers. "The other body could be under the snow or could be connected by a rope," Burns said from Telluride, Colorado, where she was helping coordinate the rescue effort. "We are tremendously sad they are not coming home, but they were doing what they loved," she said. "For these guys, they were there by choice, climbing beautiful, pristine peaks with someone they respected at the top of their skills." Burns said it was too early to say what happened to the two, if they were hit by an avalanche, slipped or encountered some other problem. "Whether they fell off the face or were swept off the face, we don't know," she said. The body was found at the 5,300-meter (17,390-foot) level on Genie Mountain, also known as Genyen Peak, not far from the Sichuan border with Tibet. The mountain is 6,204 meters (20,354 feet) tall. Burns said it was most likely the searchers found the body because something stood out in a blanket of white snow. Unlike the case of the missing climbers on Mount Hood in Oregon, the search has been complicated because the two did not leave detailed plans and rescuers initially did not even know which province in southwestern China to search. But a clue to their whereabouts emerged several days ago when rescue workers found a driver who had dropped the pair off near the mountain on Nov. 11. Boskoff and Fowler told him they would climb the mountain and that he could meet them on November 24 so they could pick up their bags, but they did not show up. Boskoff has ascended six of the world's peaks over 26,000 feet, including Mount Everest. She owns Mountain Madness, a Seattle adventure travel company. Fowler is an expert on climbing in southwestern China. He has guided climbers up Everest and climbed some of the tallest and most difficult peaks. Burns said both climbers have homes in Norwood, Colorado. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 the link to the AP story above, from MSNBC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennessee Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 I was very sad to hear this news. I talked to Charlie extensively when planning my first trip to the area and he was so nice and extremely helpful. He's been to China so many times and climbed so many things, mostly solo. Peaks that took other expeditions weeks to climb with multiple camps, he would do in a day by himself. He's probably got more first ascents in Sichuan than any other single person, not to mention all the other millions of places he's been. I stayed in this area for a month last fall, it is a beautiful place. Very remote and peaceful and untouched by the outside world. The mountain, Genyen, is a holy peak. A monastery is built at the base and has a 1500 year history. Sounds like Charlie and Chris may have been attempting something on the North Face which faces the monastery. There's several big chutes one must climb to access that side. A route on that side got climbed by an Italian team earlier this year. This may sound strange, but I can't think of a more peaceful and spiritual place to pass over to the other side. May they both rest in peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dechristo Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmuja Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 Our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Charlie and Christine, and to Mountain Madness staff and guides (personally to Mark R, Matt S, Todd M, Geoff U, - were all with ya and pullin for ya. Hang in there guys, and keep it together ok. Yr an awsome and inspiring group of people! See you next year for sure! peace om ma ni pe me hum http://fowlerboskoff.blogspot.com/ http://www.mountainmadness.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZimZam Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 This may sound strange, but I can't think of a more peaceful and spiritual place to pass over to the other side. May they both rest in peace. Not strange at all. Well said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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