[at-l] Outdoor Fatalities

[dfaddleton@mindspring.com (David)]

Two missing, presumed dead in Alaska on America's second tallest peak 
Fri Apr 12, 1:04 PM ET 
By DAN JOLING, Associated Press Writer 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Two climbers were missing and presumed dead after they attempted to descend America's second tallest peak on skis, the National Park Service said.

  
Aaron Martin of Lake Tahoe, California, and Reed Sanders of West Yellowstone, Montana, disappeared Tuesday on Mount St. Elias, which rises 18,008 feet (5,402 meters) in southeastern Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Search crews were hampered by snow that made flying impossible, park spokeswoman Jane Tranel said Thursday.

The two men were among four climbers dropped off on April 4 at about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) by Paul Claus, owner of Ultima Thule Outfitters.

Greg Von Doersten of Jackson, Wyoming, stayed at 14,500 feet (4,350 meters) after suffering frostbite. The other three, including John Griber of Jackson, reached the summit Tuesday.

Their plan was to ski or snowboard to sea level, said Hunter Sharp, the park's deputy superintendent. Griber changed his mind and decided to walk.

He later saw Martin slide about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters), out of control, before going out of sight.

Claus, the outfitter, flew back to the area Wednesday morning to check on the climbers' progress. As he flew over Griber and Von Doersten, he spotted a message stamped in the snow that said, "two dead, two need rescue." The pair were rescued by helicopter on Wednesday.