Good point about the GPS. It didnt even ocurr to me that they'd go without one -- very easy to get socked in or whited-out up there.

I'm also spurprised they didn't have an emergency locator beacon with them. Those have made such a difference in so many rescues on Hood, and, there are so MANY rescues due to it being climbed so often, that I gather you can rent them very cheaply. There's been discussion for several years of requiring climbers to carry them since so many expensive searches happen every year.

The mountain itself is serious terrain, but the resue capabilities in the area are pretty tremendous. If they can find you they can probably get you off even horribly treacherous parts of the mountain and have you helicoptered to a hospital in Portland an hour later. But first, they have to be able to find you.