Dan_Miller Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Mt Rainier rescue currently underway, likely on the Liberty Ridge. Seattle Times, Rainier Rescue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScaredSilly Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 More on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/14/missing.climber/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketJSquirrel Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Search suspended per KOMO: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/123829229.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Would 13,600 ft on Liberty Ridge be the bergshrund that sometimes forms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I seem to remember it being a bit higher, closer to 14K. Regardless, not a good place to be stranded. Based on some observations today, it sounds like they are transitioning over to a recovery operation. Condolences to the friends and family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScaredSilly Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Yes, sounds like they holed him up in the shrund before continuing on. The last report posted is not very encouraging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I feel for everyone involved. The wind yesterday at my house was absolutely whipping. In good weather it is actually really fast and quick to get to the Schrund on Liberty Ridge from above and doesn't prove to be crazy terrain. Sadly as we all know, when the big hill turns ugly, any route can kill. I hope he is ok and that he didn't slide down the Thermogenesis sector of Willis Wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Miller Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 Here's the take from this morning's NPS Daily Report: Mount Rainier National Park (WA) Climber Perishes During Liberty Ridge Ascent A party of three climbers departed White River on June 10th for a summit attempt via the challenging Liberty Ridge route. During the climb, one member of the party, Rob Planker, 50, of Olympia, Washington, became severely hypothermic and possibly frostbitten. On June 13th, his partners were unable to get him walking from their camp at 13,600 feet, so left him to seek assistance. They contacted a ranger on Emmons Glacier at 5 p.m. that evening. Two teams of climbing rangers headed to his location, one team from Camp Schurman and the other from Camp Muir. One of the teams had to turn back at 12,100 feet due to winds blowing at 55 mph. Members of the second team spent the night in a snow cave and resumed their efforts to reach Planker at 5 a.m. the next morning. They found some of his gear at the point where his partners left him, but were unable to find Planker. Air searchers found a 2,000-foot-long slide track leading down a 50 degree ice- and snow-covered slope over some of the steepest and most inhospitable terrain on the mountain. The track indicated intermittent airborne periods and ended at an icefall below Liberty Wall. No signs of Planker were found during a thorough visual search of the slide area. A Chinook helicopter from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and an MD 530 from Northwest Helicopters assisted in the search, which was called off at 4 p.m. due to high winds. Limited visual searching from the ground will continue. The operation is now considered a body recovery, as the risk-to-benefit ratio is not conducive to extensive searching. Liberty Ridge is one of the most technical climbs on Mount Rainier. Members of the climbing party are experienced climbers and were well equipped for the climb. IC on this incident was Brian Hasebe. [submitted by Patti Wold, Park Information Officer] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbcbd Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 What a grim year it's been condolences to friends and family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkW Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Don't know. . . Couldn't they could have attempted to carry/drag him down? I realize the terrain is technical, but, . . they went off to find help.. . Maybe just not possible. . Sad. Two cold, dehydrated, hungry, exhausted and, by that time, frightened climbers dragging 200+ lbs of non responsive climbing partner off Lib Ridge at 13,500 in 50 mph winds? How's about we wait to second guess until at least a couple of facts about this come out? Yeah...it's been a pretty grim year so far. Be careful out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhrmabum Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Yeah, I'm not criticizing, believe it or not, just wondering. Sorry if it came out that way. This is always the topic that comes up, ie, why didn't they carry said climber down from 24,000ft. on Everest, etc. Conditions usually dictate what's possible, I guess. Sounds like they were experienced as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Out of respect for the two guys who just lost their friend let's not speculate on what they could have done since we know nothing about what transpired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhrmabum Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 (edited) Yeah, I'm happy to delete the above post, if possible. Wasn't trying to second guess the actions of those involved, esp. since they are no doubt more experienced than myself. I usually am disappointed to see the critics begin braying aloud so soon after something like this happens. . . So, again, I'm happy to delete that post, if I could. Ah, took care of it myself. Apologies to all. Edited June 15, 2011 by dhrmabum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wetslide Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Second guessing is an educational process that all of us go through. I had the same thought (just didn't voice it on a public forum). I think probably most climbers would have that same thought. Again, thoughts go out to the climbers and the missing party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billcoe Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 We all know how close to the line it can get. 0 to 60 or 60 to 0 in a short time. Condolences to friends, family and loved ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougd Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 d Out of respect for the two guys who just lost their friend let's not speculate on what they could have done since we know nothing about what transpired. What he said. In addition: I hope I never have to be faced with such a decision. I will not second guess, criticize, or join in speculation about the men/women who were faced with it. d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 "it is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning for every one of us living in this world means waiting for our end let he who can achieve glory before death when a warrior is gone that will be his best and only bulwark" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougd Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 "it is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning for every one of us living in this world means waiting for our end let he who can achieve glory before death when a warrior is gone that will be his best and only bulwark" Thanks Ivan, I like that one, one more if you please. "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; for there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he falls, at least he falls while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat" TR d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUCKY Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Rob was my go to guy at The alpine Experience for special orders ...what a nice guy...it don't look good...think'n of you dude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 "it is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning for every one of us living in this world means waiting for our end let he who can achieve glory before death when a warrior is gone that will be his best and only bulwark" Thanks Ivan, I like that one, one more if you please. "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; for there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he falls, at least he falls while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat" TR d Or as the Russians would say: "za odnogo bitogo, dvukh nebitykh dayut" За одного битого, двух небитых дают Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhrmabum Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 (edited) d Or as the Russians would say: Dersu Uzala! Edited June 15, 2011 by dhrmabum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keenwesh Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Rob was such a nice guy, always loved talking to him whenever I was at alpine or during the occasional run in skiing. man, this sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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