Mount Rainier beckons climbers, and sometimes kills

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Mount Rainier beckons climbers, and sometimes kills"

Egbert Gilbert
6 years ago
Views:

1 Mount Rainier beckons climbers, and sometimes kills By Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela staff 06/04/14 EATONVILLE, Wash. Mount Rainier looms over Puget Sound, wooing climbers and testing their skills. Its icy peak beckons but it also kills. Now, Rainier has claimed six more victims. More than 14,000 feet high, Rainier is the fifth tallest mountain in the continental United States. The glacier covered volcano rises alone near Seattle, beckoning local outdoorsy types. There is a draw, but I can t explain it, said Len Throop, who has climbed Rainier many times but never reached the summit. From the first time I ever saw it, I felt a connection. Even if you can t see it, you know it s there. And it s dangerous. (Last) week is one example, and it s not even the worst. Mountain Guides Among Dead The worst accident came in June 1981 when 11 climbers died under giant chunks of ice. The six climbers who died last week included two experienced mountain guides. Both worked for Alpine Ascents International. The six victims are believed to have fallen thousands of feet down a sheer, icy cliff. The names of the dead have not yet been officially released. However, Alpine Ascents said that the lead guide was Matt Hegeman, who had scaled Rainier more than 50 times. A family member identified one of the other climbers as Mark Mahaney, 26, of St. Paul, Minn. All indications point toward a fall of 3,300 feet from near the parties last known location at 12,800 feet, a Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman said. There was no realistic "chance of survival from such a fall. At this point, there are no plans to put people on the ground at the site because of the ongoing hazards. Climbing Rainier is never easy, said mountaineering expert Martinique Grigg. Only 50 percent of the people who try it, make it, any given year, said Grigg. It s a tough mountain. You need to be in good physical condition, and you need to have training to be safe in the mountains. You need to know how to travel over a glacier, how to rescue your climbing partners.

2 Scaling Liberty Ridge Is Difficult Rainier's challenging terrain requires skill, endurance and special equipment. Climbers must attach spikes to their boots to keep from sliding, and they carry ice axes that help stop them if they do slip down the mountain. They are often tied to their climbing mates for safety. It s like being on a stair stepper at a steep angle for 10 hours, and that s for just a normal route, Grigg said. Liberty Ridge, the route the doomed climbers took last week, is one of the most difficult on the mountain. Eric Linxweiler, who has scaled Rainier several times, said climbers on the peak hear rocks crashing down the mountain. We do almost all of our climbing in the middle of the night when everything is frozen, Linxweiler said. As the days get longer, every day the snow gets softer. As you re walking uphill, you re sliding. It s much safer to be on the mountain when the mountain is frozen." He added, Everyone leaves at midnight or 1 a.m. when they re doing ascending work. You put a headlamp on and you go. Unlike Linxweiler and Grigg, who have not climbed Liberty Ridge, Mike Maude has made the difficult ascent several times. In the past, he has both rescued climbers and helped recover the bodies of the dead. That ridge is steep enough and long enough that, once you get started falling, unless you can stop immediately, there s no stopping, Maude said. "I Want To Climb That" Gary Harrington of Alpine Ascents said it was not possible at this point to know what caused the deaths. But he said that among the possible problems climbers face are rock fall, avalanche, a mixture of everything in between. The ground search for the six climbers bodies was called off because it was too dangerous. To continue searching there puts everybody at risk, Grigg said. The sad fact (is), sometimes bodies are not recovered." If an avalanche slid over them, "they could be covered 30 to 40 feet or more. But climbing experts said Sunday that, although last week s accident could make people think twice about safety, it probably would not keep them off Mount Rainier. The peak is just too attractive to climbers.

3 We moved here six years ago, Grigg said. I would see that mountain and think, I want to climb that one day. We talk about it as magical. You can t see it sometimes," when the weather is bad. "And then, all of a sudden, it s just there on the landscape. That makes it compelling and curious. That s what made it compelling to me. Mount Rainier Questions Directions : Answer the following ten (10) questions using a highlight tool in Notability. Read the following passage from the article. More than 14,000 feet high, Rainier is the fifth tallest mountain in the continental United States. The glacier covered volcano rises alone near Seattle, beckoning local outdoorsy types. 1. Which word can replace the word beckoning without changing the meaning of the sentence? A calling B surprising C frightening D comforting Read the following sentence from the section Mountain Guides Among Dead. At this point, there are no plans to put people on the ground at the site because of the ongoing hazards. 2. What is the meaning of the phrase ongoing hazards as used in the sentence above? A continuing incidents B surrounding dangers C repetitive failure D repetitive plans 3. What is the purpose of the section Scaling Liberty Ridge is Difficult in the article? A to highlight that carrying axes and getting tied to climbing mates is very essential while climbing Mount Rainier B C D to describe the difficulties in crossing Liberty Ridge, which was the route that the doomed climbers took before their death to explain the various challenges that climbers usually face, especially on Liberty Ridge, while climbing Mount Rainier to appreciate the techniques used by climbers who attempt to climb Mount Rainier despite the difficulties

4 4. What is the organizational pattern of the article? A problem/solution B compare/contrast C cause/effect D enumeration 5. Which of the following sentences from the article uses an example of visual imagery? A The ground search for the six climbers bodies was called off because it was too dangerous. B The glacier covered volcano rises alone near Seattle, beckoning local outdoorsy types. C Climbing Rainier is never easy, said mountaineering expert Martinique Grigg. D The six climbers who died last week included two experienced mountain guides. 6. Why is climbing Mount Rainier difficult? A It requires endurance, patience, and guides B It requires endurance, special equipment, and guides C It requires skill, patience, and good luck D It requires skill, endurance, and special equipment 7. In the section labeled I Want to Climb That, what are possible problems climbers face? A blizzard or eruption B avalanche or blizzard C rock fall or avalanche D rock fall or blizzard Read the following sentence from the article. He added, Everyone leaves at midnight or 1 a.m. when they re doing ascending work. You put a headlamp on and you go. 8. What is the best meaning of the word ascending as it used in the sentence? A leading upward B leading downward C expressing approval D causing difficulty 9. What inference can be made based on the section labeled Mountain Guides Among Dead? A No one has been able to successfully climb Mount Rainier in twenty years. B Even inexperienced mountain climbers can be killed climbing a mountain. C Even experienced mountain climbers can be killed climbing a mountain. D Mount Rainier is mountain that only experienced mountain guides can climb.

5 10. Which of the following individuals were quoted directly in the article? A Martinique Grigg, Eric Linxweiler, and Mike Maude B Martinique Grigg, Eric Linxweiler, and Gary Harrington C Matt Hegeman, Mark Mahaney, and Gary Harrington D Gary Harrington, Martinique Grigg, and Matt Hegeman

Helicopter Rescues Increasing on Everest

Part 1: Read Sources Source 1: Radio Interview Helicopter Rescues Increasing on Everest As You Read Look for evidence that supports your position or convinces you to change your position on this question: