A sad day for Oregon

Like many of you, I have been following the coverage of the three missing climbers on Mt. Hood. For over a week now, I kept hoping for the climbers to be found. (Click on the top photo for a link to rescue photos). Every day, I watch the news and read the updates on-line and today it seems that all hope is lost for these last two climbers to be found alive.

I guess one of the reasons I find this story so compelling is that Dan is also a climber of mountains. He has climbed to the summit of Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, some of the Sisters as well as Mt. Hood. Each time I get nervous and he reassures me he will be careful. I tell him don't do anything too crazy and that I love him. I imagine the wives of these 3 climbers must have similar conversations with their husbands before each climb. I bet the climbers didn't think this would be one of their last conversations with their wives. My heart goes out to the wives and family members of the 3 climbers and the loss they must feel. In all of this tragedy, it is comforting to know that the men were Christians.

I thought I would share some photos Dan brought back from his time climbing Mt. Hood... don't think he would ever climb in December though.

Dan's Climb up Mt. Hood:

Here is Dan getting hooked up to the rope.
(I'm sure there is a more manly term for this.)

Almost there. Look how high up they are!

When I saw this, I could have passed out. A few years later,
just weeks before Dan was going to hike Mt. Hood again,
climbers got stuck in a deep crevasse just like this one. After
hearing this on the news, he decided not to climb...thank God!

Here is Dan with our good friend Chris at the summit of Mt. Hood. (Oops...I stand corrected. This is the summit of Mt. St. Helens. I was wondering why the change of clothes!)
(BTW, nice hair! This was during his long hair phase)

Majestic Mt. Hood: A stunning view from 11,239 feet up;
the highest point in Oregon.