MOUNTAINEERING NEWS ITEM

Two Japanese Climbers on McKinley Still Missing

TUESDAY, 27 MAY 2008
Submitted By: Edmund Jadol

Two Japanese climbers who failed to return home from their climb are still missing, while the rescuers from Mt. McKinley continue to search the mountain for any clues of their whereabouts.

Denali National Park and Preserve spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin refused to name the missing climbers but said both are in their mid-20s, experienced climbers, and that one of them even spent time in the Alaska Range in 2006 and 2007. The two men, who were last seen on May 9 when preparing for their climb, were expected to return on Thursday, May 22.

Poor weather prevented any aerial searches of the Cassin Ridge, a challenging ascent known to be the place where the two men decided to climb. On Monday morning, the area was scanned by a high-altitude helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft with mountaineering rangers and other skilled observers who were familiar with the route and terrain. No sign of the climbers was found. The search party will continue to fly by the area.

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