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Two Missing Climbers on Mt. Foraker, Denali NP 13-Jun-2006 At 10:29:07 AM The Keeper

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There is quite sad news to report on this - Denali Park has indicated they have scaled back the search and that it is now characterized as a recovery. There is no hope that these two incredible women climbers are alive. They have been without fuel, food and water plus significant gear for too long. Tough weather has conspired with the loss of gear to create a a fatal circumstance. Although not identified in early reports, a full bottle of water was found with Sue's lost gear and seems to indicate that it was lost early on in the climb and that they decided to press on as the better of two poor options - they almost made it - reaching about 16.500 ft before bad weather pounced on them and secured their fate. Retreat was really not an option and they could not have imagined how the die would be rolled against them from that point on. The bad weather continues and is not likely to let up for several days. Denali Park mountaineering rangers will continue to monitor the peak over the summer melt season in hopes of identifying their final resting place. A celebration of Sue Nott's incredible life is planned for June 18 in Vail, Colorado. No details on arrangements for Karen McNeill have been identified as yet but I am sure that family and friends around the world, particularly in her Canadian home - Canmore, Alberta, will do it up in the style that Karen would want.
It has been a tough year in the mountains - Sue Fear, Aidan Oloman and now Sue Nott and Karen McNeill. But one should not dwell on the sadness of lives unfulfilled but rather a celebration of lives boldly and meaningfully lived and braced with kindness and generosity to others. They are in many respects not gone - simply moved to another mountain and I can already hear the ker-chink of whacking ice picks as these lasses have at some bold new, inspiring project. We had better keep our game in tune for when we join them we are going to have a lot of catching up to do! The mountains of the earth will continue to reflect their spirit and young women will take up their torch to live their dreams unconstrained by boundaries and low ceilings. They in their passing have given us a great gift - an deep insight into the real meaning of life and taking our own initiative to secure our dreams. Life is a short transition from one state to another but these women drained the tank in their time.

I think a memorial fund supporting bold , inspiring climbs by young women would be appropriate to their memory but we shall see what the families and John Varco, Sue's
partner - decide. My thoughts are with them during this unimaginably wrenching time.
The Northern Lights will be brighter and more sparkly from here on in - as native people in this part of the world consider that is where the deceased are.

The photo of Sue and Karen on top of Denali after their pioneering Cassin Ridge climb is a wonderful way to remember these two - they were extremely happy and proud and
where they were meant to be - in the mountains. God is with them.