two skiers missing at the Crystal Mountain

This just posted on the TNT website from the AP: CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, Wash. –

A search is under way for two skiers missing at the Crystal Mountain resort on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park.

Pierce County sheriff's Deputy Dan Hudson told KIRO-TV the sheriff's office received the report from the Ski Patrol early Friday, and searchers found the car of the two Seattle skiers in a parking lot.

Searchers followed tracks in the snow into an out-of-bounds area that led into Yakima County, so the Yakima County sheriff's office has been called in.

Hudson says the search Friday will use aircraft with beacon-tracking equipment.
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Sure praying for a positive outcome...

www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Two-skiers-...untain-86580602.html

they're safe!


*they're from vermont.

So it kinda sounds like they went out Morse Creek, ran into a car there, turned around, then walked over Chinook and missed the turn toward Crystal? That's a long walk....

What I find somewhat wasteful is the chopper ride back to Crystal. If it was headed back anyway that's one thing, but that's a lot more gas burned vs a car ride around. If they ever see a bill they'll wish they called a taxi!

Without giving a toss if I appear overly judgemental....

That was deeply retarded of them.

I can't wait to read their trip report.
That's a heck of amount of ground to cover in one full day without skins.
Those guys did a great job to keep their heads and did the right thing except...
The tough luck, they had a 50/50 chance of getting the direction right at Cayuse 123/410 junction.

Crystal has placed bright reddish/orange  disk markers that say "closed area" on the traverse from the Throne to 3-way exit chutes. Guess they missed those and just followed tracks.
In all the years I have skied Crystal they never put those signs up until those guys got lost a few weeks ago out at Crystal Lake. And yet another pair gets lost  ???
I guess bringing a compass is out of the question?

This is not helping the cause to keep the boundary access open from Crystal into the park.
I can see the Park building their case now.