SummitPost.org

Rough day on Hood. Condolences to the fallen climber's family. Sounds like the rock/icefall conditions were horrible to be up on a mountain.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/re ... ed-n847701

"You had ice axes and crampons and you couldn’t get secure foot in your holds," Wyatt Peck, 26, of Portland, said, adding that there was a layer upon layer of ice, making holds difficult. "If you were to slip and fall, you couldn't dig your axe in and stop yourself," he said.

"This is the worst climbing day I’ve experienced for sure, condition wise," Peck said.

Yup... I've run into that on Shasta such that even though I was ok going up... I didn't like the idea of descending it.

Just turned around... it avoids the need for a rescue.

So unfortunate to lose life on the mountain so early Mt Hood is a merciless killer.

http://www.kgw.com/mobile/article/news/ ... -518308741

Multiple reports now coming out of some climbers who turned around due to bad conditions. Well this is what happens when you keep moving in one direction no matter what the mountain is trying to tell you.

If I remember correctly The Chief used to go on a bit about how there are no 'accidents'. I certainly think this is an example of that. Not the mountain's fault... and apparently this was very foreseeable. Lesson learned for everyone else.

"The mountains don’t care about people’s objectives. The mountains have unlimited means to kill endeavors for their slightest mistake, even for just being in wrong place at wrong time. However, the mountains are not always that brutal. The mountains often warn those who came to conquer; give signs; or gently slap in the face; ...to teach respect, to spare lives."

In this case, for one there will be no more lessens; for one it was just a gentle slap; for others just a warning sign "...to teach respect."

My long time partner was on Hood during the kerphuffle and he turned around due to horrible conditions.