Some interesting insight by a veteran climber of many volcanoes around the world in this article.

I was wrong about the recovery effort being over. This article says the official, confirmed death toll is up to 48 now and a dozen more bodies were recovered in a previously unsearched area. The recovery effort continues.

Apparently there was some warning, seconds to minutes. No telling if it would help - volcano summits probably have little to hide under & behind, and that assumes a mask can handle the ash.

SUCH a sad event. There are some situations that no human can survive. This was one of them ... for people high up on that volcano. Prayers for their families.

Pete

Last I heard, there were 54 deaths on Mt Ontake.

From the preparedness angle--if anyone could really prepare for something like this--I ran across this article the other day.