The Ledge - One climber found dead; two remain missing on mountain

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/17/mis...ers/index.html

HOOD RIVER, Oregon (CNN) -- One of the climbers lost on Mt. Hood has been found dead, according to local officials in Oregon.

Authorities have not named him.

Capt. Mike Braibish of the Oregon National Guard confirmed the climber was discovered in a snow cave and that the climbers' families have been notified.

A positive identification of the body has not been made, said Braibish.

Searchers entered a different snow cave Sunday afternoon hoping to find at least one of the three missing climbers who have been lost on Mount Hood for nine days.

But there was no one inside.

However, Hood River Sheriff's Department spokesman Gerry Tiffany said two ice axes, a sleeping bag, and rope were recovered.

Climbers construct snow caves for insulation and protection from wind.

Searchers also discovered a fading trail of footprints.

James, Brian Hall, and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke began their climb December 8.

The only communication from the stranded climbers came a week ago when James, 48, of Dallas, Texas, phoned his family, saying he was holed up in a snow cave near the summit.

Hall, 37, of Dallas; and Cooke, 36, of Brooklyn, New York, had gone on, he said.

The search continues
Though it is possible the first cave searched was built by someone else, "you have to assume it was Kelly James' snow cave," Tiffany said.

Rescue teams started up the mountain on the north and south sides at about 6 a.m. (9 a.m. ET), and the climbers on the south side reached the summit by 10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET).

Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 cargo plane from Nevada will continue searching around the clock in 12-hour shifts, Sgt. Sean Collinson of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said.

The C-130 has infrared imaging equipment that can sense body heat.

The U.S. Forest Service closed Mount Hood above the Timberline Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail to everyone except search-and-rescue teams.

All but rescue aircraft are banned within a three-mile radius of the mountain.

Dwight Hall, whose son Brian Hall is among the missing climbers, told reporters that family members were on "a roller coaster of emotions."

"Keep in mind that today is only the second day of conditions favorable for a full-scale search-and-rescue effort," he said, adding the time had been well spent even when weather conditions were difficult.

"It's all been progress," he said. "At times it's been frustrating. The dedication of the people out there tackling this effort in these conditions is unparalleled."

Hall added that the families were confident in the abilities of the lost climbers.

"These men are fully capable both mentally and physically to cope with the situation that they find themselves in, and to continue to cope with it and adjust as the situation evolves.

"We have full confidence in them. ... That's what's been able to sustain us."

Favorable weather is predicted for Monday.

"Weather is going to be a factor," Tiffany told CNN Sunday afternoon. "If it starts getting really windy again, it's going to be a problem."

"Yesterday was a positive day," said Capt. Chris Bernard of the 304th Rescue Squadron. "We brought some significant data that we analyzed and has narrowed the scope of our search area."