Remains found on Mount St Helens identified as Japanese hiker

Osaka Doug

The hotel staff did call the police after he failed to pick up his stuff. How long after he set out to climb a snow-covered mountain in the middle of winter (?) is not mentioned in the article.

I was surprised to read it, but apparently people climb Mount St. Helens year round. It is a 7 to 11 hour round-trip hike, and can be completed by beginners.

Here is the U.S. Forest Service website on the hike: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mountsthelens/home/?cid=stelprdb5144806

He was found off the trail not far below the crater rim. Don't know which side of the rim, or how steep it was there. Maybe he fell off something.

borrowing snow shoes

Not a good sign. Especially if they look like these.

http://news.tubbssnowshoes.com/files/2009/09/NE47MISC10EMB-330x220.jpg

Or these (even worse)

http://www.hartleynature.org/images/explore/snowshoe.jpg

Depending on where you use them...

But on slopes, especially steeper ones, you're better of with these (shape and construction are completely different, trust me. Life or death, your choice)

http://www.yowies.com.au/images/topbotTextKman.jpg

Or even these

http://img02.naturum.ne.jp/usr/crag/R0020479.png

And be smart, switch to crampons when the time is right.