Vancouver climber in trouble on California summit (ZT)

VANCOUVER — Rescuers said Wednesday they will wait for a break in the weather before attempting to reach a snow cave 100 feet below the summit of Mount Shasta in Northern California where former Vancouver resident Thomas Bennett was left by a companion Sunday after falling unconscious.

Bennett, 26, is a graduate of the University of B.C. and has been working as a chemical engineer in Oakland.

Susan Gravenkamp, an official with the Siskiyou Sheriff's Department, said three helicopters were on standby waiting for storm clouds to clear so they could attempt to transport a rescue team to the summit. She said the attempt could only be made during daylight hours.

However, she said rescuers are concerned that Bennett may have died. She said his companion Mark Thomas told police that when he left Bennett in the cave he was "unresponsive and might have died."

Gravenkamp said the weather is expected to improve Thursday.

"It's been has been very stormy up there with winds in excess of 70 mp/h," she said.

She said Bennett and Thomas — experienced climbers who had scaled the 14,162 foot mountain before — set out on March 25 to climb the mountain.

"It seems they got caught in a bad situation up there with high winds and blowing snow. They had been in the snow cave since Saturday. There was a medical problem with Mr. Bennett. It could have been altitude sickness, we don't really know. But Mr. Thomas left the cave on Sunday afternoon after Mr. Bennett became unresponsive and may have died.

"It took him more than 24 hours to get off the mountain as conditions were very bad," she said.

Thomas first raised the alarm at about 9 a.m. Sunday when he used his cellphone to call police and report his partner was experiencing altitude sickness and that he had become confused and disoriented, according to the Siskiyou Daily News.

A further call came in just before 4 p.m. saying Bennett was seriously ill. It was at this point Thomas began his descent. He was found by police at about 4 p.m. Monday.

When the alarm was first raised a rescue team from the police, and the forestry service was put together but the weather has prevented a ground team from going up the mountain, she said.

Helicopters from the California Highway Patrol and a Chinook helicopter from the California National Guard will be used to put the team on the mountain once the weather clears, she said.

Gravenkamp said Bennett's mother, Mary Kenny of Sechelt, B.C., was travelling to the area.

jerrybj
Mount Shasta in Northern California

LuLu,
I was there once about 10 yr ago. But I did not make it. It is not very hard, but depends on weather. Are u interest to go? I can be your best guide.

lulululu
[quote]jerrybj
Mount Shasta in Northern California

LuLu,
I was there once about 10 yr ago. But I did not make it. It is not very hard, but depends on weather. Are u interest to go? I can be your best guide.