Body of Mt. St. Helens climber who fell into crater is recovered

The body of a climber who fell into the crater at Mt. St. Helens in Washington state has been recovered, reports the Oregonian.

Rescuers were holding out hope that Joseph Bohlig, 52, from Kelso, Wash., was still alive after the ledge of snow he was standing on gave way, sending him sliding about 1,500 feet into the crater Monday afternoon.

Overnight temperatures at the crater fell into the 20s, and dense fog and rain shrouded Mt. St. Helens this morning, hampering rescue efforts, said David Cox, Skamania County undersheriff.

Witnesses said Bohlig's body, which was discovered at 2:40 p.m. on a steep slope on the south crater wall, was nearly buried in the snow, and rescuers had to use shovels to uncover it before loading it into the Navy helicopter used for the rescue effort.

Scott Salkovics, who was climbing with Bohlig, told officials that Bohlig took off his backpack and a layer of clothing, then decided to pose for pictures near the rim of the crater. He was backing up when the snow gave way and he fell.

Salkovics watched in horror as Bohlig fell, frantically trying to grab on to something before he disappeared over the edge.

The body has been airlifted to Carson, Wash., where it will be transported to the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, Skamania County Sheriff's officials said.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: The crater and rim of Mt. St. Helens is shown partially obscured by moving clouds and fog Tuesday afternoon during the search for a climber who fell 1,500 feet into the dormant crater of the volcano Monday in Washington state. Credit: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

Related:

Rescue efforts to resume for climber who fell into Mt. St. Helens crater

Climber falls into Mt. St. Helens crater; rescue effort underway

To follow this blog on Twitter, please visit @latimesoutposts

Comments

[L.W.]

I live close to Mount St Helen and I am very sorry to hear that this man has died.

Having said that, I feel that as an experienced climber he must have know the risks. Many people drive to the observation point rather than taking the 14 hour limb to the snow covered rim.
This is a live VOLCANO even going to the observation point has some risk.

People need to evaluate the situations that they get themselves into, not expecting that others put their lives on the line to rescue them.

It is very selfish to purposely put your self in harms way and expect others to risk their lives to save yours.

Let me make it clear:

Would you go camping at Glazier Park and not even think of the possibilities of being attacked by a Grizzly.

Or

Go swimming with sharks and not think that you may be bitten.

Please think before you leap.
And don't expect strangers to sacrifice their lives to save yours.

[JR]

For Mr. Brian Lorbiecki ,

Hey, dude. I'm a SAR volunteer in WA State who has been following this rescue through my contacts. There was absolutely nothing that could be done without risking more lives to save this guy. Helicopters don't fly by magic in high altitude, winter conditions. They tried their best last night but because of turbulance and low clouds, they could not make the pick up.

I had a friend of mine who was a USAF para-rescue jumper (PJ) in Vietnam. They were attempting to rescue an American pilot who was evading the NVA by attempting to swim a river. The helicopter hovered over the pilot and my friend reached down and grabbed him by his belt. As he lifted the pilot toward him the belt broke and the pilot disappeared into the water. Because of ground fire they had to leave. The pilot was never found and my friend lived with that failure everyday of his life until he died five years ago.

I'm sure that is what the helicopter crews are feeling tonite. Cut them some slack, Brian. You are obviously speaking out of ignorance. Until you have, "been there and done that" as a SAR volunteer, keep your mouth shut.

[Tim Matthews]

Brian, do you know something about the rescue effort to call it 'crappy'? If so, I'd be interested to hear it. Or do you just like to sit back and take shots at people doing dangerous work that you don't understand?

[Brian Lorbiecki]

What a crappy effort from Sheriff and the SAR, to take nearly 24 long hours to reach his now frozen body, he was alive on monday after the fall, by a poor,crappy, and other bad words for the people involve in this poor effort to save a mans life. Total Shame

[J Wenck]

Apparently P.A. Hendrix, you failed geography. The Mt St Helens is in Gifford Pinchot, WA.

[Kristy]

Mt St Helens is indeed in Washington State as is Mt Rainier. There is a city of St Helens in Oregon, but the Mountain is currently in WA lol

[alex rojas-perez]

omg! i know i heard about this stuff

[P. A. Hendrix]

i believe the mt saint helens is in Oregon, all of it. Rainier is a volcano that is in Washington...