The Nome Nugget

Fog-Shrouded Mt. McKinley Still Holds
Two Climbers. Rescuers, at 10,200 Feet

ANCHORAGE, (AP) - An angry spring sky and a layer of dense clouds thousands of feet thick held the key today to the successful completion of this state's greatest mountain rescue effort.

A storm which sent winds up to 100 knots swirling around the continent's highest mountain, towering Mt. McKinley, kept the rescue machinery at a complete standstill. Heavy clouds completely obscured the mountain from 2,000 feet up.

Still Socked In

The latest report this morning was that the mountain still was "socked in" up to 18,800 feet, with high winds, rain, sleet and snow. Forecasters said it would be tomorrow at the earliest before a break in the weather could be expected.

Still to be removed from McKinley were the Whittaker twins of Seattle, Jim and Lou. Although suffering slight frostbite, they were believed in no danger. Only the weather prevented aircraft from picking them up from their campsite near the 10,200-foot level.

With the Whittakers were a score or more of seasoned mountain climbers, hurried onto McKinley's icy slopes after the Whittakers and two companions, John Day and Pete Schoening fell 400 feet down an icy slope at the 18,000 foot level last Tuesday night.

Daring Helicopter Evacuation

Day, 51, a wealthy rancher from Central Point, Ore., was evacuated from the 17,200 foot level Friday night by a daring helicopter pilot, Link Luckett, who took his craft 1,200 feet above what had been considered its top operating limit.

The easy smiling Luckett, 32, pushed his small chopper beyond its range again Saturday to remove Schoening, 31, of Seattle.

Day suffered a broken leg, a dislocated left ankle and frostbite. Schoening had a frozen left hand and frostbite. Both men are in good condition, according to attendants at Elmendorf AFB Hospital.

Another amazing aerial rescue, one of numerous acts of individual and group heroism involved in this rescue operation, was made Friday by bush pilot Don Sheldon of Talkeetna.

Flying a light plane, Sheldon, a veteran of other air rescues, landed at the 14,000-foot level on McKinley and whisked to safety Mrs. Helga Bading of Anchorage.

Mrs. Bading, 30, was a member of an Anchorage climbing party which went to the assistance of Day, Schoening and the Whittakers after they fell. She suffered mountain sickness, a condition brought on by lack of oxygen, and for a time was in critical condition. She recovered quickly on her return to lower altitudes.

Loss of Two Lives

While the massive rescue effort had its bright, happy side, there was also a dark side, filled with sorrow for the wife and two small daughters of William Stevenson, Anchorage, and the family of a military man whose name has not yet been released.

Stevenson was piloting a small airplane attempting to airdrop supplies to the Day party Friday. The military man was a passenger.

While circling at 18,000 feet, the plane suddenly dived into the ice and snow. Both men died.

Their bodies are still on the mountain.