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The fresnobee link was provided above, fyi.

Very sad and unfortunate. My prayers and thoughts are with Mark and Tom.

There's a confirmed report that a rescue/recovery attempt was made but no word on the outcome yet that I can find

http://www.mtshastanews.com/news/x1859639420/Authorities-to-attempt-helicopter-rescue-for-Mt-Shasta-climber

mbaze wrote:The CHP helicopter got turned back because of weather: http://www.redding.com/news/2010/mar/31 ... ker-today/

How frustrating!! I kept hoping for a small miracle but it doesn't sound very good

My thoughts are with all of those involved: family, friends, and rescuers included. Be safe.

From a Cascade climber here in Europe. We climbed Shasta in winter between storms. This could just as easily have been us. There's nothing wrong with climbing Cascade Volcanos in winter, until something inexplicable like this happens. So sorry Mark, you hang in there.

Don't know these 2 guys, but I really hope he hangs on up there, and stays strong, and knows help is coming. I had to rescue my buddy off Shasta in a similar scenario (at a lower altutude), but my partner was ambulatory, so I basically just kicked his ass down the mountain. You did the right thing setting him up in a cave and getting down ASAP to get help. If you couldn't have dragged him down you couldn't have done anything to help him. He needs rapid descent. Don't let anyone give you any shit. Praying......

I have been constantly looking at the every ten minutes and no updates yet. My hopes are he is OK.

timd wrote:I have been constantly looking at the every ten minutes and no updates yet. My hopes are he is OK.

Me too !

I was on the tarmac all day waiting for an opportunity to fly in. Dan flew in the CHP H-14 early and called it off. A bigger, more powerful CalFire 202 came in and Eric flew a recon and cancelled due to poor visibility. Just as the news reported. At about 3:30pm a Chinook arrived with a guard crew from the valley, but the clouds never gave us an opportunity to fly. That machine is an absolute beast and can handle the wind and altitude, but we still need visibility. Being on skis in vertigo conditions is one thing, trying to land a heli is another.

Tom's girlfriend was there and spoke to us channelling Tom's greatest desire not to take unnecessary risk to retrieve his body. I admired and respected her attitude and statements in what is truly a tragic situation. Dan was onboard the Blackhawk that crashed on the mountain in 2000, so no one is pushing it to fly in marginal weather.

After waiting around and not being able to go yesterday, I am climbing this morning taking advantage of this brief weather window right now before the next storm arrives. We really need heli support to get him down, they plan to try first thing this morning.

damn, all the best to everyone involved!

SMG, Good luck and be careful. You guys are the greatest, since its always a risk.

Thank you SMG.