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Messages 1 - 20 of total 181 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
johntp

Trad climber
socal
Mar 8, 2018 - 06:44pm PT
Consider mine crossed and toes as well. Good vibes on their way.
Happiegrrrl2

Trad climber
Mar 8, 2018 - 07:36pm PT
Hopefully they hunkered down somewhere and are just off in a direction unexpected, and soon will have word they are safe.
nah000

climber
now/here
Mar 8, 2018 - 07:51pm PT
dropped off on sunday. topped out on monday.

haven’t made it back to skiis at base by thursday.

really wish there was more a person could do besides just hope for these guys.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Mar 8, 2018 - 09:32pm PT
Not too gnarly, by Alaskan standards.
F

climber
away from the ground
Mar 8, 2018 - 09:51pm PT
Happy-
It’s unlikely a hunker scenario.
Reilly-
I’m curious which route on which tower they did, and how you are familiar with the descent from it. Can you fill us in on details of the descent from the route they climbed? V threads or fixed anchors from previous parties?

Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Mar 8, 2018 - 10:12pm PT
Dunno, but any descent off the towers isn’t bad if you have the gear to leave.
Obviously, the weather will have the last word. Best wishes.
F

climber
away from the ground
Mar 8, 2018 - 10:32pm PT



Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA

Mar 8, 2018 - 10:12pm PT
Dunno

I bet.


I was skiing with a friend of Ryan’s today, he got a message about it.
All he had to say was “That sounds really bad.”

nah000

climber
now/here
Mar 8, 2018 - 10:39pm PT
did some googling and based on the photo leclerc posted on monday i suspect they summited the main tower.

leclerc says they are looking towards mt. fairweather [so west] and there is a very recognizable notch in the descending ridge at the far left of the image. looking at images of the whole formation it seems certain that the notch is the same one that can be seen along the ridge descending from the west summit. there appear to be two peaks lower than they are at in the image and their formations seem to be similar to the “west” and “midget” towers that are to the west of the “main” tower. i don’t know the formation well enough to be certain and images from as radically different perspectives as the ones i’m looking at can be deceiving, but i’m about 75% sure that the summit of the “main” tower is where that image on leclerc’s instagram was taken from.

assuming all of this is correct, according to mountain project it would appear the mountaineer’s route is the most common descent from the main tower and consists of a few fifth class steps with the remaining being mostly fourth class terrain [but all of that would be in summer, so winter would be a different animal assuming they did go down that way]. mp puts that route at 1200’ long.
Braunini

Big Wall climber
cupertino
Mar 8, 2018 - 10:44pm PT
Coast Guard is out looking but the weather isn't great. Winter storm advisory the next couple days.
F

climber
away from the ground
Mar 8, 2018 - 10:49pm PT
Thanks Nahoo. It’s always nice to have an informed opinion rather than a know it all remark.
Maybe John K. can give beta on the descent. I know he’s climbed out there a bunch. I’m sure he knows Ryan also.
nah000

climber
now/here
Mar 8, 2018 - 10:58pm PT
also ironically enough Ryan Johnson posted a tr on st from his and his partner’s ffa of the south buttress of the main tower back in 2011.

on that occasion they descended the mountaineer’s route, so Johnson, at least, would already be familiar with that descent...
Tricouni

Mountain climber
Vancouver
Mar 8, 2018 - 11:11pm PT
I won't sleep well tonight. Worrying about these guys and hoping for the best outcome.
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Mar 8, 2018 - 11:19pm PT
Thanks for all your searching and piecing info together, nah000. Am thinking about these guys a lot tonight and, as Tami mentioned, their worried families.

Below is a summer photo of the lower descent route, posted by Gabe Hayden on Mtn Project.

See https://www.mountainproject.com/photo/111623440 for the remainder of the W Ridge.

Hoser

climber
Vancouver,Rome
Mar 9, 2018 - 06:50am PT
whos reporting seeing their ski's still at the base?

https://dps.alaska.gov/dailydispatch/Home/Display?dateReceived=3/8/2018%2012:00:00%20AM
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Mar 9, 2018 - 08:06am PT
treez, have you yourself been up these Towers?
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Mar 9, 2018 - 08:48am PT
Treez, thanks for the clarification and your insights.

Hoping for a miracle for your friends, your brothers.

seano

Mountain climber
none
Mar 9, 2018 - 08:55am PT
Hoping for the best. Leclerc is young and a real inspiration. He has always played a high-risk game, though.
Matt's

climber
Mar 9, 2018 - 10:09am PT
man, this breaks my heart. Marc-andre was really inspiring to me. Met him a few times in squamish and yosemite. As I was aid climbing up leaning tower, he and his partner passed free-climbing the route. They had a boombox with them. That moment was instrumental in me realizing that aid-climbing was stupid. Watching marc-andre climb was beautiful. Really hope that he and his friend are alive...
supafly

Trad climber
vancouver, bc
Mar 9, 2018 - 10:14am PT
Is there a current rescue underway or is it snowing too heavily right now?

Or is it just wait and see, and if the worst is true, recover in the spring? :(
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Mar 9, 2018 - 11:21am PT

Let's hope for the best here.
Messages 1 - 20 of total 181 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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