Denali Update: Search for Two Missing Japanese Climbers Suspended
May 30, 2008
The search for two Japanese climbers, who were attempting to summit Denali (Mt. McKinley) by way of the Cassin Ridge Route has been suspended. Authorities involved in the search and rescue efforts have put all aerial searches on hold, saying that the area has been fully combed from both the air and the trail, for the two climbers without any luck.
In my last report, I mentioned that the two climbers’ names had not been released to the public, pending their families being notified. This has taken place. The two missing climbers are now being identified as Tatsuro Yamada (27) and Yuto Inoue (24). Both had been climbing with a well-known group of mountaineers, known simply as the “Giri-Giri Boys”.
The Alpinist takes a pretty good look at the background of this rescue attempt, as well as some of the things that rescuers have been able to determine about the missing climbers. One of the biggest things of note was the lack of supplies for an extended journey in the mountains. Both climbers had taken up lightweight gear and only enough food and water for 4-5 days. They failed to meet up with the rest of their group on May 22, and could have actually been missing since May 10th, the date that had set to take off on their own journey to the top of Denali.
From the Alpinist:
In light of their limited supplies and the subzero temperatures, search managers consider that survival is outside the window of possibility. Observers have thoroughly searched the route and surrounding areas to the degree that if the climbers were visible on the surface, there is a high probability they would have been discovered.
It has been a tough couple of weeks in the world of mountain climbing. First, Inaki Ochoa de Olza on Annapurna, and now these two. Let’s hope that these two climbers can eventually be found, and at least give their families some peace of mind. Our thoughts are with them today.
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Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under Denali, Tatsuro Yamada, Yuto Inoue |
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[...] to risk it.” On the other hand, when Goran last year went to Denali and I read about two Japanese climber missing on Denali, I was catching my breath for the first time. I knew much more about risks and dangers on [...]