From http://fowlerboskoff.blogspot.com:

"On December 27, 2006, a body, mostly buried in the snow, was spotted at 1:30pm (China time) by a Chinese member of one of the Field Search Teams. The location is at an approximate altitude of 5300m (17,388 feet), 3 hours above Lenggu Monastery in the Genyen Region. The body is currently unidentified and is not confirmed to be either Fowler or Boskoff. Details of the sighting include modern climbing equipment, blue gaitors, and grey boots. Dave Hillon, Chief, Consular Section U.S. Consulate General, Chengdu, China has notified both of the families. Hillon also reported that cooperation by the Chinese authorities has helped immensely to maintain an accelerated effort by all parties involved. The plan now is for additional Field Search Teams to return to the same area to confirm the identity of the body and to look for additional climbers and/or evidence."

Unfortunately, All good people must come to an end. I hope the final curtain was casual. God Speed Charlie and Christine.

The body found yesterday has been identified.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/12/28/climber.identifi>>>>>

Here's a link to an updated story in tonight's Denver Post. It is looking more and more like an avalanche accident.

Denver Post

From http://fowlerboskoff.blogspot.com:

"On December 28, 2006, the body found on December 27, 2006 was confirmed to be that of Charlie Fowler and for the time being is being brought down to Lengu Monastery. It appears that the cause is an avalanche. Fowler was not wearing a harness nor was he roped. He was wearing crampons and a large pack, indicating that the intent was to establish a high basecamp. At this point in the search, there is no evidence of Boskoff. The weather in the search area has changed to snow."

Search for Boskoff Called Off

From http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=5871034

Dec 29, 2006 05:24 PM

By WBAY.com and Jason Zimmerman

The search for mountain climber Christine Boskoff in southwestern China has been called off until further notice, a spokeswoman for Mountain Madness says. Everyone at the Boskoff family home in Appleton [Wisconsin] was shaken by the news.

The outcome of the search effort was one the family hoped to avoid.

"This is absolutely not the news we had hoped for," Boskoff's brother, Paul Feld, said. "We were praying that we would find her, either alive or find her and know what happened to her. We have a pretty good idea what exactly happened to her. It's just going to be hard for the family to accept."

Helen Chung of Mountain Madness says weather conditions on the remote mountain have become too dangerous, and there's concern about causing another avalanche.

A director of Mountain Madness, David Jones, says it's been snowing at the 17,000 foot level of the mountain, and searchers have been called out of the avalanche field where they found the Fowler's body on Wednesday. Fowler's body is being taken out, but it will take days to leave the remote area.

The search for Boskoff's body will resume once condition improve. Jones indicated that might not be until spring.

A number of Boskoff's family members are gathered at her mother's house in Appleton. Feld says the family found out the news from Mountain Madness.

The family says it has a lot of decisions to make over the next couple of days.

Her family described Boskoff as an athlete who accomplished a lot, including a climb on Mount Everest. She was very humble -- that's what her brother says -- and she had a passion for mountain climbing and her work as a guide.

She was a 1985 graduate of Appleton East High School, and received the school's first Patriot Alumni Award in 2003.

A memorial will be held in Seattle next week to remember the climbers -- the event is described as a celebration of their lives -- and to raise money for future searches of the mountain.


Also reported in the International Herald Tribune, the Seattle Times, and the Appleton Post-Crescent.

Today's update from http://fowlerboskoff.blogspot.com:

• On December 29, 2006, the Field Coordinator in Chengdu reported that a “puja” ceremony has been arranged for Fowler and Boskoff at the Lengu Monastery.

MISCELLANEOUS

• On January 3, 2007, 6:30 - 8:30pm: Osprey Packs will host a fundraiser to aid in the search at the Abbey Theatre in Durango, CO. Local professional photographers Bill Hatcher, Kennan Harvey and Scott Smith will present a sampling of their work. There will be a silent auction with gear from Osprey, Outdoor Research, Prana, and the local outdoor shops. Suggested donation at the door is $10.

• On January 4, 2007, 5:30pm: Mountain Madness will host this event at REI's flagship store in Seattle, WA (222 Yale Ave N) to celebrate the adventurous lives of Christine Boskoff and Charlie Fowler. The event will also raise funds for the continued recovery effort of Chris. Olympia-based climbing guide Dan Mazur, part of the party that gave up their own ascent to Mount Everest to help a stranded Australian climber, will speak at the event. REI is donating the facilities, and there will be product giveaways donated by National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and area companies to help raise additional funds for the search and recovery effort. Mountain Madness is donating a trip and courses. The general public is invited.

More details about the fund raiser at REI in Seattle, and how to make a donation is located here:

http://www.around-n-over.org/

Nice telling of Charlie Fowler's story from the Rocky Mountain News: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,D>>>>>