Body of Famed Climber Christine Boskoff Finally Coming Home
September 28, 2007
A process that has taken an unusually long 10 months is finally about to end. The body of legendary climber and owner of the world reknown expedition company, Mountain Madness, is finally coming home.
Christine Boskoff, who went missing in China last December with her climbing partner Charlie Fowler, will finally be heading back to Appleton, Wisconsin for a proper burial and ceremony.
You may all remember the headlines last December for the search of Christine Boskoff and Charlie Fowler, that began on December 14, when the pair failed to return for a flight home. The news did make a few headlines in the papers, but for the most part was masked over by the ongoing search and rescue efforts of three lost climbers on Mt. Hood.
The ensuing search for Boskoff and Fowler soon hit a snag that left people wondering just where the two could have been. They had left to climb a few unknown peaks in the Sichuan Province of China, but left little clue as to where exactly they were heading.
In the coming days, luggage of the climbers would be located in a small village. This little clue led people to start wondering about the health of the climbers, but also led them to a few people who had seen Boskoff and Fowler in the area.
The search soon narrowed down to Genyen Peak. On December 27, bad news broke as it was learned that the body of Charlie Fowler had been discovered.
From an earlier report on The Adventurist:
“From what rescuers were saying, Charlie Fowler was the victim of an avalanche on the remote mountain. Fowler was not wearing a harness or ropes when he was found. It is thought that he was heading up the mountain to build a new basecamp when the avalanche struck. The only thing that Fowler had on was crampons and a large pack indicating that this could be the reason.
Christine Boskoff would not be found until eight months later on July 9 of 2007. Mountain Madness soon issued a press release of the finding of Christina Boskoff’s body, but it would not be until today, that her body would finally be coming off the mountain in China. The impending recovery efforts had been hampered by bad weather in the region for close to two months.
Christine Boskoff, a world reknown climber, had made successful summits of Everest twice, as well as five other 8,000 meter peaks. Christina was also the first North American female to top out on Lhotse, an Everest neighbor, and the fourth highest peak in the world.
From this article in The Appleton Post-Crescent today, it is learned that Christina Boskoff was cremated in China. Her ashes are currently making their way overseas where the family is planning on hosting a memmorial service in three weeks, then laying her to rest in a Sheboygan cemetary next to her late father.
We know that this ws not the outcome that everyone pictured for Boskoff, or Fowler for that matter, but we can all rest a bit easier knowing that some closure has come in this long ordeal for Christina’s family, friends, and associates. Let’s keep all of them in our thoughts.
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Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under Charlie Fowler, Christine Boskoff |
Not the outcome I was hoping for, but at least her family has some closure now.
Mr. Knighton,
Thank you for your site and the updates on matters so close to heart. Christine and Charlie will be missed dearly.
Thank you so much for your dedicated site.
I hope Brian & Jerry will also be found so their families will have closure too.