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Re: Mt Whitney SAR - In Progress
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 10:25 am
by OmahaAdam
From the local paper
Three Omaha men are missing after a winter storm blew in while they were descending from a mountain in California.
Missing are: Phillip Abraham, Steve Filips, and Dale Clymens.
http://omaha.com/article/20101021/NEWS0 ... n-mountain" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Mt Whitney SAR - In Progress
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:22 pm
by edhaman
A couple of questions raised by the Omaha.com article:
1. Does anyone know if "provisions" are stored at the summit structure? It's been several years since I climbed Whitney, but I've never heard the structure is provisioned. I've read that the structure is a dangerous place to be during a thunderstorm, and that people have died from lightning strikes while staying in it.
2. Is it really freakish for there to be a 3-foot snowfall on Whitney at this time of year?
Re: Mt Whitney SAR - In Progress
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:26 pm
by skiwall
edhaman wrote:
2. Is it really freakish for there to be a 3-foot snowfall on Whitney at this time of year?
Not really, no.
Re: Mt Whitney SAR - In Progress
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:28 pm
by Trudger
Another article with photos. Interesting group who were on an adventure that also included Death Valley. More background on their trip:
http://omaha.com/article/20101021/NEWS0 ... rs-goes-on" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hikers FOUND!!! -- SAR on Whitney
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:01 pm
by Steve C
They have been airlifted via Chinook helicopter and are safe now.
Hikers FOUND!!! -- SAR on Whitney
Re: Mt Whitney SAR - In Progress
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:08 pm
by skiwall
AWESOME.
Re: Mt Whitney SAR - In Progress
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:54 pm
by gsliva
Watched the press conference. This is a case of trying to summit before a storm rolled in. With a permit that's very hard to acquire the urge to summit or summit fever is very strong. Glad they are OK. Nice move staying put and that there was a shelter just in case.