Should they have stopped the search for the lost mountain climbers after only 9 days?

Question

I understand that it is unlikely these men are still alive, but there is that small chance. I just feel so bad climbing into my warm bed and thinking that these guys may be freezing to death out there and everyone has given up on them. Just interested in what others think about this?

Answer 1

I think the families actually agreed to the decision. The families didn't want rescuers put in life/death danger for that small chance. They'll still go on search, but it is officially recovery effort now and not rescue mission. They may hope for miracle still, but reality suggests other wise. But you can't blame climbers for all this really. It's like blaming some US soldiers who died in IED for joining army. Climbing isn't service to the country, but this is what people do, go on adventures. They weren't being stunt junky or daredevils. They also found evidence that climbers have taken good amount of gears/ survival gears. They weren't few drunken guys going on death mission. They just underestimated the task. Anybody can make that mistake.

Answer 2

I don't understand why "experienced" climbers would not have looked at the forcast, and since from the area, wouldn't have noticed a hell of a storm brewing....I understand the safety and cost issue when it comes to the rescue team and all, and some of the answers you got here state how they feel about it.....I may agree with parts of some of the postings here, but if I were to put myself in the shoes of the families waiting for the phone to ring.....I can't imagine someone telling me "sorry, but the search is called off", leaving them standing there with now no one to turn to, to find their loved ones.....It must be an awfully hopeless feeling they are having, that is very sad to me.....right at the holidays, doubly sad....

Answer 3

They searched longer than 9 days. And you have to remember, they are not searching in some gorgeous easy to navigate climate. They have professional climbers scaling a huge mountain in deadly conditions. It's almost impossible to see, move or search. The 3 climbers understood the risks of the climb, and chose to do it as part of their lifestyle. You don't go into these things blindly as weather is highly unpredictable. It's very sad and very unfortunate, but pulling back on the search is understandable at this point.

Answer 4

In theory, the "experienced" rescue people have determined that the risk of sending additional people to search for the missing outweighs the benefits. They've probably figured that based on the length of time that has already passed, the chances of survival with the current equipment on hand is pretty low.

I haven't been really following up on the stories, but did any of these climbers carry emergency beacons?

Answer 5

my heart breaks each time i think of those men and their families. may god bless them. however with the weather they have already had and more to come i think they did the right thing in ending the search. i would hate to hear of more people dying trying to rescue them.the weather is just to treacherous.i am praying for a christmas miracle or any kind of miracle that will bring them home.

Answer 6

Yes, it was right. Nobody told them to go climbing in the first place. I feel bad for their families, but not so much for them. All those rescue climbers are putting themselves at great risk to save people who didn't HAVE to go climbing in the first place. I do feel however, that if they did find them alive, the 3 of them should have to pay for the entire rescue effort.

If you have to get an ambulance to come to your house, you have to pay for it....they should too.

Answer 7

Great question. Being from Oregon I can tell you as we speak, the mountain is once again being hammered by one of our famous winter storms.

Is it worth the risk of more human lives to "search" in this type of weather?

I think the other two have already froze or fallen to their deaths.

Tose of you that are giving us the thumbs down. Would you like to become involved in this search? Contact the Hood River County Sheriff?

Answer 8

They took their risks. Their family should be grateful that the nation spent so much money and put so much lives at risk with such a slim hope to find them. Do you sincerely think we can spend so much money and take so big risks every time three guys with wives and children decide to have some fun in the mountain three weeks before Xmas?
Maybe they should have thought twice ! Because there are people now who are going to have the worst Xmas of their life....And every Xmas of their single life will be a nightmare !!

Answer 9

Go search for them then.


It costs hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to search for them and without food or unfrozen water they won't be able to live past 7 days. Moreover the snow that just went through. It is unfortunate but reality.




Now, I have no qualms with somebody wanting to climb in the cold and risk their own life, however I think the permits to do so should cover the cost of recovery. I don't care if you kill yourself, but I don't want to pay to look for you.


I really do feel for them, well mainly their family and I'm not saying we should have searched for them until there was no hope, which is what was done, however the costs of your risky habits and sports should be paid for by those wanting to do it.

Answer 10

yes them three fools needed to have had a elt with them it only costs five bucks to rent one. it is not worth the risk to have searchers out there looking for dead bodies.