More hikers missing 2/11 on Franconia...

[Bill O]

The classic view of the ridge from Lonesome Lake...

That photo is no good...it doesn't even look like NH. Looks more like the Canadian Rockies. Just kidding, thanks for sharing.

[Steve M]

In the press release it says that Osborne was removed from the mountain first at 8:50 PM and Fredrickson at 9:35 PM. It also said that Fredrickson was in worse shape than Osborne. Did they remove them in that order because they new there was no hope for Fredrickson? Not sure of the reasoning here.

[Bill O]

In the press release it says that Osborne was removed from the mountain first at 8:50 PM and Fredrickson at 9:35 PM. It also said that Fredrickson was in worse shape than Osborne. Did they remove them in that order because they new there was no hope for Fredrickson? Not sure of the reasoning here.

Not to speculate...but yes. Osborne was removed first because he was and is still alive.

Jim posted the weather chart for Sunday on another forum. You can almost pinpoint to the minute things started to go bad for them.

[Steve M]

I can understand the situation was critical for both so I guess rather than lose both of them the logical thing to do is to take the one who at least has a chance of surviving, as apposed to losing them both.

[lwa11]

here is one of my panos from cannon

http://public.fotki.com/lwa11/best-o...pano17307.html

[billysinc]

More than likely (speculating here) Mr. Fredrickson was already gone at that point.

[Bill O]

More than likely (speculating here) Mr. Fredrickson was already gone at that point.

That's what I was trying to get at.

[KD Talbot]

Unfortunately rescuers are forced to make decisions like this in these situations. Tend to the ones who have the best chance of surviving or recovery first. Just a nasty fact of being in that business.

I hate that fellow hikers lose their lives in the White Mountains, but it is a fact of life. I pray there are no more for a while. No more ever, but I know it's a risky business, especially in winter. A shame this had to happen, I just hope others will learn from it. I have learned to make no judgement. Despite the best planning and equipment, the weather can be fickle and conditions change in a heartbeat.

The mountain gods have smiled on me and my little troop over and over and I consider myself blessed. I have learned to respect, not fear them, and I hope they continue to smile on us. My way of giving back is to share what I know about them, and I hope, I HOPE, that through my meager knowledge of their ways I can spare someone else their wrath.

Please stay safe out there. If forecasts are bad, change your plans, stay below tree line. If conditions turn bad, turn around, get back in the trees, get down out of the wind. Turn around before you can't see the next cairn. Respect the wind. The mountain will still be there next time.

KDT

[lwa11]

I live in Portland and was out taking pictures of birds on Sunday
afternoon when the front came through my area. Things changed within a
minute.

Here is a picture of a police car 50 yards away. Just minutes before
this I could see across the harbour and into the City which is a mile
or so away.

Things change so quickly. The ridge hikes are wonderful but not the
place to be when things turn.


http://public.fotki.com/lwa11/2008/f.../21008002.html

[JimS]

Not to speculate...but yes. Osborne was removed first because he was and is still alive.

Jim posted the weather chart for Sunday on another forum. You can almost pinpoint to the minute things started to go bad for them.

Here's that frame...I imagine that without snowshoes, things weren't good for them before this point, but when the wind force quadrouples in a matter of 15 minutes to unmanageable, you definately have a bad to much worse situation...

MWO Conditions Sunday