The two who left to get help were apparently husband and wife, and they probably slept together, giving them an edge.

Well-equipped and experienced must mean all kinds of things. It simply puzzles me why these supposedly equipped and experienced people keep dying.

I have absolutely NO experience or interest in mountaineering. And I really don't care if the people who do, live or die. How's that for callous and cynical? They make their own decisions and sometimes their judgment appears to be rather poor. If they die, they die.

What I DO object to is their screaming for help when their poorly thought-out plans go awry. Then they want other people to risk their lives to save them. Sure, there are people who are willing to run out in a blizzard to find the victim. And some of the saviors become victims.

As far as I'm concerned, the bottom line is this: If you want to put yourself in danger, go for it -- just don't try to take other people down with you. If you die on the mountain, expect to stay on the mountain.

Sue