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Hopefuly we have internet and p2p programs <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bad news about Polish climbers:
Russian rescuers have suspended their search for Polish mountaineers trapped in a crevice in the Caucasus Mountains. The team of Russian rescuers decided that the chances of finding the two Polish climbers alive are null. A group of 4 Polish mountaineers got trapped in a crevice in the Caucasus Mountains 6 days ago, two managed to survive and call help. It has not been ruled out that the rescue action will be resumed after weather conditions in the area improve. Meanwhile, two Polish rescuers have left Poland to continue the search in the Caucasus Mountains

http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=26452&j=2

Unfortunately, after such a long time, I agree with the statement that it's almost impossible to find them alive for such a long time. The conditions are just too dangerous, and the bad weather is too risky for the Russian search teams to function safely, too.

Hopefully the Polish search team will at least be able to find something.

In some cases life span in a crevass is estimated at 20 minutes. I have dangled my skis in crevasses twice and had the snow collapse into one about 8" from my one ski - happily paralell to the ski and not under it. My friends were on the other side of a hump in the snow and were unaware of my danger - it would have been a long time before they turned around to locate me (there were some obstructions between us).

Rescue is tricky and danger often dependent upon season. You have to have people who know what they are up to and the best have to have an element of luck. Sometimes there is nothing else to cary you through, sometimes it is nothing less that kills you. The most skilled people are sometimes killed on a "perfectly safe" day doing everything right - yet mother nature nails them.

Falling in a crevass doing what you wish to do is not a bad way to go.

Kai

Eric,

how many Polish movies did you watch?

The "Kultura" network on Russian TV often shows Polish films. I can't remember any right now, but I do remember watching one late at night... it was taking place in a forest a lot. It's a pretty recent one, made with British teams, too, if I remember correctly.