Climber still missing on Sloan Peak after 39 years

[JasonG]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2018223873_pacificpclimber27.html

 

A well written article, and a poignant reminder about the familial cost of climbing fatalities. With two boys about the same age as Wally's sons were when he disappeared, the piece was a good reminder to always stack the odds in my favor. A photo from Mr. Scurlock as well!

[B Deleted_Beck]

Important article... very relevant. Thanks for posting.

[genepires]

as a father, this story hits home. thanks for sharing this.

[mattp]

Nice!!!!!!

[jon]

We were actually contacted by the Times for photos for this article, but at the time I didn't know what the article was, just that they needed a picture of Sloan. We all know who I told them to contact

[John_Scurlock]

& I appreciate it.. Just saw that, quite a story..I wasn't sure when it was coming out & was quite interested to read the details. That cover image makes me reflect on climbing when I was considerably younger..

[Bronco]

Managed to toss it in the recylce bin before my wife read it.

[j_b]

In a report filed later, searchers said they withdrew after the "very active" Sloan Glacier seemed dead set on swallowing them up. One searcher broke through the snow into a hidden crevasse. Another, coming to his aid, set off a 120-foot-long fracture line on the glacier's surface.

 

hmmm, rather unclear what is meant by "setting off a 120-foot-long fracture line" in early September

[JasonG]

It sounded like the weather turned for the worse during the latter part of the search. I'm guessing there was significant new snow at the elevation of the glacier, quite possible in early September, especially in the 1970's.

[j_b]

Possibly, although NCDC shows precipitation for September 73 in Washington to be ~1/3" above average and mean temperature slightly above average: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/cag3/wa.html

[JasonG]

On 9/7/1973 Arlington WA reported 1.06 inches of rain with a high temperature of 50. No rain on either side for several days, though temperatures were cool....

[j_b]

Ha! good work, Hercule.

[Phil K]

Here is a link to the Seattle Mountain Rescue January '74 report. SMR January '74 No mention of fresh snow, but creaking, tottering seracs seem to be on the menu. As I suspected, WS, the owner of the suspicious sling was no other than Bill Summner. I wonder what kind of shennagins ol' Bill was up to.

[JasonG]

Thanks Phil! Makes more sense for early September I guess, though the weather did seem wet and cold enough for significant snow (if the source I found wasn't in error).

[j_b]

No mention of fresh snow, but creaking, tottering seracs seem to be on the menu.

 

It reads as if it was a horror show. I never had a 120' fracture propagate from setting an anchor. Pretty ballsy rescue mission.

[JasonG]

There is another heartbreaking story in that 1973 MRC bulletin - a three year old boy who wandered off near Lake Wenatchee and was never found, despite a massive search over five days. Nearly the same age as my two sons....

[j_b]

I can't force myself to begin imagining what these poor people must have gone through. I have been blessed to live a life free of major trauma thus far and I am not one to dwell on what might be, but considering this kind of tragedy makes me nauseated.

[Phil K]

Yes, I read that too. And the kid's dad was active in local SAR. Yikers.

 

There is another heartbreaking story in that 1973 MRC bulletin - a three year old boy who wandered off near Lake Wenatchee and was never found, despite a massive search over five days. Nearly the same age as my two sons....