Rainier avalanche
Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:12 am
Breaking news of climbers on Rainier.http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=328676 Been on that route many times.
Climbing, hiking, mountaineering forum
http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB3/
https://www.summitpost.org/phpBB3/rainier-avalanche-t53588.html
Dangerous avalanche conditions, worsened by new snow overnight, led Mount Rainier National Park officials on Wednesday to call off the search for the body of Mark Wedeven.
The 29-year-old climber from Olympia has been missing since he was swept away by an avalanche Saturday.
“We haven’t had a chance to do much searching on the mountain because avalanche conditions are so bad,” park spokesman Kevin Bacher said. “Given that, and that it’s a recovery situation and not a rescue, there isn’t any sense putting people at risk.”
Climbing rangers Glenn Kessler and Tom Payne spent about two hours Tuesday searching for Wedeven at 11,200 feet elevation. After digging several test pits to gauge avalanche conditions, the two suspended the search and returned to Camp Muir.
Bacher said Wedeven’s family understood the decision.