She called home and learned that her husband and the others were well. Her husband, Hickman, was Rieke's partner in 1994 when he fractured his spine in a rock climbing accident. Hickman saved Rieke's life and lowered him from that cliff. Now, Rieke's party has begun its final leg. Rieke's group was planning to resume climbing at 9 p.m. Thursday to take advantage of the cold and darkness, said Coyle, who had a message relayed to him from the party shortly after 8 p.m.
Warm temperatures soften the snow or melt it.
Rieke's party was camped Thursday at about 12,000 feet on the Emmons Glacier, said Coyle and Ohl of Kennewick, who is acting as press liaison for the expedition. But Ohl noted the remaining climb has plenty of crevasses. And Rieke's party won't know the current widths and condition of those crevasses until they come up on them. Hyrkas still is worried a bit, noting avalanche conditions still exist on the mountain. Copyright 1998 Tri-City Herald.