en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1515444 Comments by Iluvburritos http://www.komonews.com/news/local/100921834.html#IDComment93731753 I'm in Everett- no sound heard here. Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:49:36 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/100921834.html#IDComment93731753 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90468047 The rocks actually may have had something to do with it, loose rock, loosens the ice so the ice slips, I have no idea, but the chances are greater at a risk when you climb underneath cliffs with dangling rocks, ice and snow, whereas the people near the main ice cave were on flatter land (unless right up at the ice cave), they were safer than the other people by the cliff areas. That's just how I saw it. Both were risks, though of course I know this and a terrible loss none the less. Tue, 3 Aug 2010 01:27:51 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90468047 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99739879.html#IDComment90467401 At around 4 pm. We were lunching at the caves at 1:30 and about 1:40 we decided to leave, I was steps away from going down the trail, I would have missed it, but I was at the head of the trail right where you could see everything. I want to say it was about 3 (I think if I can remember correctly). So I think the incident happened around 1:45 ish?, it took runners prob 20 mins to run down and then drive to nearest post, another 15 or 20. From the parking lot you were over a mile away. Tue, 3 Aug 2010 01:22:21 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99739879.html#IDComment90467401 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90427034 I agree with 21734, that was an unstable area, I was there at the time and quite shocked anyone was climbing that area, let alone to find out it was children up there. The flat area was where families were, and quite frankly accidents could've happened there, too, but there is way more risk in climbing loose rock next to boulders, ice/snow underneath cliffs, as opposed to open, flat areas. Let me say that even still, no one would ever know that was going to happen, these things are very rare and it wasn't like anyone was playing on the ice or anything (I hope). I hope that this wasn't in vain and that safer measures are put in place, not banning anyone from nature or anything, but even at Mt. Baker they have signs not going past a certain point, because it is back country and super dangerous ungroomed territory, yet people still do it and the sign warns them of their risk...so I'm all for more signs up there!!! God bless... Mon, 2 Aug 2010 21:23:34 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90427034 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90424928 You can clearly see (if you were there) that the rocks are those sharp, loose and slippery type at the bottom of cliffs where boulders, ice and snow are dangling. Not somewhere I would, personally climb up or take anyone who wasn't a professional. I am really sick that they let anyone, all those families even go that close, I want to see signs telling people to view from a distance, either people don't realize that this could happen, and the signs might let them know. I am mad I even took my family close to the caves, as I realized when I got up there that they could slide and come barreling down anyone at any time, that is why when I got there, I instantly packed up my family to leave (I felt unsteady about it, despite many hikes I have been on). And yes, accidents can happen anywhere, the slide area where trees were down severely concerned me, b/c they could go sliding at any time (like on a wet day) at people. I just don't think the last part of the hike is even safe for families (now that I've seen it). So so sad about this. Mon, 2 Aug 2010 21:16:47 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90424928 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90395691 I can only think that maybe a rescuer person can only call those in, not the average citizen. I sure hope this wasn't in vain and that some changes are made to the response system (a phone out there, or something) and maybe some signs telling people not to go on the sides of the cliffs like that (or signs of a do not pass this point) type thing. Mon, 2 Aug 2010 19:42:02 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90395691 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90394932 I think that people deemed it as safe to go up the side like that because they saw a bunch of other people doing it, but that doesn't make it safe, nonetheless. My heart aches for this poor family.... Mon, 2 Aug 2010 19:39:31 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90394932 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99739879.html#IDComment90365826 I was at the trailhead leaving when we heard the crackling of the ice and we all turned our heads and saw the ice ball barreling at 20-30 or more people who were climbing in that area. All we could do is gasp as it stopped and didn't roll down the mountain, harming more people. Some people screamed and we were hoping and my daughter and I started praying for whoever was up there. We were really hoping that no one got hurt and that it missed everyone. We were so sad to find out about this. May God be with you, rest in peace beautiful girl. Mon, 2 Aug 2010 18:03:53 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99739879.html#IDComment90365826 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90105952 I'm sorry you had to witness that...God bless you. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 04:46:08 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90105952 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90103285 In my opinion, it was an unsafe area that I saw others climbing, but they chose to climb it. Who knew that this would happen, though? I really hope that they will put a sign up forbading people to go in that area now, at least they will have that warning. RIP that girl and the poor mother... Sun, 1 Aug 2010 04:19:43 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90103285 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90103105 This was not the trail and not the head of the ice caves, these people climbed on unstable rock to the right where, personally, I wouldn't take my family, but others chose to go. I had heard this was a pretty safe hike and place to go and that's why we took our kids today, but my son wasn't allowed anywhere near the ice or anywhere unsafe, although it seems even going near the ice cave could be deemed as unsafe. So sad..: ( Sun, 1 Aug 2010 04:18:06 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90103105 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90102550 God bless you!!! Yes, fate, nothing anyone could have done. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 04:12:48 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90102550 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90102155 I don't even want to upload my pics from there today, I'm too sad and don't want to be reminded of it. Dang, I was hoping to hear that someone got minor injuries, nothing major. I'm so sad to find out the opposite. I hope there's somewhere we can deliver flowers to the family. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 04:09:00 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90102155 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90101657 I almost missed it. I had to go to the bathroom pretty bad as I had drank a lot of water on my way up, so I was headed down fast and heard a crackle. I really wish I had missed it, no one should have to see that.... Sun, 1 Aug 2010 04:04:51 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90101657 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90101423 I get your point of view, really all the people on the trailhead had already seen the "runners" going to get help...we already knew help was running down. I was getting ready to run, I was just gonna holler to my husband to watch the kids b/c I had to leave them with him so I could get help....but a group ran before I could and which is great, because I'm not in the physical shape they were. Really there was nothing else to do, but we did not gawk, we prayed and went down to make sure rescuers were on their way...that is all I could do (it was my son's first hike and he's 4). What a sucky day, but it was great before that yes, and I even was still hoping that it was only a twisted ankle. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 04:03:00 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90101423 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90099204 I agree. The very VERY few of us who had an inkling of what was going on...we all did what we could; prayed, called 9-11, others ran down the mt. to get help. What more can someone do? I would never take my kids up the side that others were on, there should signs telling people not to go past that certain point, but many people did. I am sad,,,so sad. I was hoping I would come home to hear it was a simple twisted ankle, nothing more. Dang it! Lord please bless the families involved. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 03:41:35 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90099204 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90099001 My condolences as well. I was there, I believe, personally, I would not take my daughter even at age 14 up where they were at...it was unstable rock and more of a climb than a hike (not a trail) and not really sure why 30-something people were climbing up that way, except maybe to see the smaller ice cave. Definitely no one knew that the ice would collapse in that fashion, turn into an ice ball and come barreling at the climbers. It could have easily rolled down to other areas as well. I will be praying a lot for those families affected tonight. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 03:39:18 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90099001 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90097832 I'm sorry your boyfriend saw that, we were further away so I saw it roll but I only saw dots of people scatter to the sides. You did all that anyone could do, people tried calling 9-11, others were helping the injured up there, and others (like you) went running for help (others also prayed) ...so tons of people did what they could. Others had no idea and we all heard maybe this or that happened, no one knew if anything really happened and others had no idea at all. Ugh...so sad, it was such a good day up there and I'm sad to hear this happened. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 03:27:39 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90097832 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90097498 Actually, most people did not know what happened and others were trying to find out what was happening. The only real people that knew what was going on were the ones that climbed up there. Finally someone yelled 9-11, which gave some of us clue what to do, so we started calling and almost got through so I was going to tell my family to stay while I ran down, and then we heard a bunch of people running to get help. So I prayed with my family and had to help my children down the mountain and got them the heck out of there. The people helping the injured were the ones that climbed up there. The LAST thing anyone should do without experience is climb on unstable rock with a boulder of ice dangling to come down on you, everyone was waiting for the professionals...it just took so long...it was sort of a helpless situation. I was hoping to hear that no one got hurt (again even though I was there, I had no idea it actually hurt anyone) and I'm deeply saddened to find out it did and it was headed toward about 20+ other climbers on unstable rock below and to the side of the ice that collapsed. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 03:24:29 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90097498 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90097017 that's misinformation, most people did not know what was going on there, they couldn't hear it or see it, the sounds/sights were muffled by snow and other things...most were clueless, only a few of us had an idea of what may have happened and those people that did responded quickly...everyone had their phones out, gathered their families and quite a few people ran down the mountain for help after we had finally heard there were injured (as no one knew until the message was relayed). Sun, 1 Aug 2010 03:19:41 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99697864.html#IDComment90097017