"Two Boulder climbers missing in China" (Daily Camera article)

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BOULDER, Colo. — Two Boulder filmmakers and a third person joining them on an expedition to China's rugged interior are three days past their scheduled return, and the parents of one are trying to organize a search.

Twenty-four-year-old Wade Johnson, of Minnesota, went to Mount Edgar in China's Sichuan Province. Johnson's parents said in an e-mail to friends that their son was accompanied by Boulder residents Micah Dash and Jonny Copp.

The three are working for Boulder-based Sender Films, which makes climbing and outdoor adventure films. A phone message left with Sender Films was not immediately returned Thursday.

Bruce and Susan Johnson say in an e-mail reported by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that they are trying to arrange a helicopter search should a ground rescue fail.

"Our son and the two climbers are three days overdue, and there is no information about their whereabouts," father Bruce Johnson said in a telephone interview this afternoon. The couple have since declined to answer further questions.
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The title of the article says "missing" but it appears that "overdue" is more accurate.

I hope they return safely.

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Edit: (added 6.6.09 11:40 MDT)

Clicky to donate money for rescue effort

Clicky for blog with "up-to-date" info

Only thinking positive thoughts at this time.......those guys hang out in places that would make "overdue" a pretty believable scenario.

Indeed. I truly hope overdue is the right verbage here...

Sending good positive vibes, luck and well wishes. I cant wait to hear the story that accompanies this one upon their return..... :)

Shades of Chris and Charlie. Hope these guys are ok.

Sending good energy.....Get home safe. Micah is registered on Mountain Project.

Hope they're only overdue. Good vibes coming their way.

Staying positive! Cannot wait til they get back.

Micah and Jonny are superheros man... and if Wade is hanging with these guys, he's gotta be strong too. They'll pull through. Sending all of my positive energy your way guys.

Hope all is well...Jonny is the only guy I've had the "opportunity" to do a tequila shot with....while he was wearing a dress.

Gotta love a guy that can pull that off...Bold in climbing and apparel.

Looks like the Daily Camera added a little more to the article linked above, including their objective for the trip.

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BOULDER, Colo. — Two professional Boulder climbers and a third person joining them on an expedition to China’s rugged interior are three days past their scheduled return, and the parents of one are trying to organize a search.

Wade Johnson, 24, of Minnesota, went to Mount Edgar in China’s Sichuan Province. Johnson’s parents said in an e-mail to friends that their son was accompanied by Boulder residents Micah Dash and Jonny Copp.

Copp and Dash are climbing with help from a Mugs Stump Award, a grant given to small climbing teams by several outdoor recreation companies. Johnson is a film editor/producer with Boulder-based Sender Films, and he was accompanying the pair, but not climbing, Sender Films’ Nick Rosen said.

Rosen also said while there is concern, “missing” may be too strong of a term. He said a better term to describe their situation would be “late.”

Copp has been in a similar situation before, according to the Web site for the Adventure Film Festival, which he started in Boulder and runs. Copp’s bio says he once spent four days in a Himalayan crevasse before returning home safely.

According to the American Alpine Club, which also awarded a grant to Copp and Dash, the pair is attempting a first ascent of Dojitsenga, a 5,700-meter triangular peak in the Kangri Garpo range.

“The peak has never been attempted, let alone reached, by climbers. The region is one of the most remote and least explored of the world,” the club said in a statement on its Web site.

The club said the trip was scheduled for last year but was postponed because of political unrest in the region.

A longtime friend of Dash said the combination of being out of touch for more than two weeks and missing his flight home has her worried.

“It could be a bad sign,” said Amelia Patterson, who is also a climber from Boulder. “Bad weather could be keeping them from leaving, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that something happened. ... I hope it ends well.”

Bruce and Susan Johnson said in an e-mail reported by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that they are trying to arrange a helicopter search should a ground rescue fail.

“Our son and the two climbers are three days overdue, and there is no information about their whereabouts,” Bruce Johnson said in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon.

The Associated Press and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune contributed to this report.

If anyone can get out of a hairy situation its these guys. I have seen it first hand. Get home safe guys we are all sending the good vibes your way!

Good vibes to them for sure!

I've met Jonny a few times - probably one of the nicest, generous, genuine people I can think of. He has lots of good karma he can cash in on!

Here is a link to the line they planned on attempting.

Can't say enough good things about these guys. I sure hope they make it back.

keeping my fingers crossed for y'all - positive vibrations!!

Good luck guys get home safe! Good vibs commin your way.

First time I met Jonny he was hanging upside down from the railing at the North rim of the Black. I hope that charisma carries him home safely.

You can donate to the search effort at the Sender Films website -- www.senderfilms.com/.

I'm pulling for these guys.

Word at the crag is that two very strong climbers secured visas just today to go and help search for them. It's also my understanding that it's very difficult/impossible to email to and from China right now because the Communist state has put strict regulations on internet usage due to the Tiananmen Square anniversary.

--Marc

Nick Martino and Eric Decaria are the climbers who obtained visas to help out with the search and Pete Takeda and Steve Su will also be joining them. From: Adventure Film

prayin for em... hope they make it home safe... never met either but they seem like great guys :)

AP is reporting that 1 body has been found but not identified.

www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jyJH9H4eOi6URE_zn>>>

My thoughts and prayers go out to all their friends and family.

George

These guys are my heroes doing it just how I wished I could. I met Micah a few times. Two of these were on Half Dome several years ago as he passed me on day 1 and 3 my ascent as he climbed it twice in three days! Another time at a Golden gas station as he gassed up his haulbag-laden beater for a Black Canyon run. I was a working stiff and shuffled on to my desk job. I was done with that life really soon thereafter. I only know Johnny from climbing videos. He is clearly more excited about climbing than any other person who ever climbed. I am crushed that another of our finist teams have found trouble in China. May Micah's, Johnny's and Wade's family find peace and strength as these trying times unfold.

Daily Camera article on the body found. Such a tragedy.

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BEIJING — The body of an American mountain climber has been found after an avalanche in an isolated part of southwest China, the official Xinhua News Agency said Saturday.

Rescue workers are searching for two other American members of the group who went missing on Mount Gongga, Li Zhixin, an official with the Chinese Mountaineering Association told Xinhua.

Xinhua did not identify whose body had been found.

A search was launched for the three climbers -- including Boulder locals Jonny Copp, 34, and Micah Dash, 30, and Minnesota climber Wade Johnson, 24 -- after they missed their June 3 flight back from Chengdu.

"These three guys have given so much to the climbing community in so many ways: their dedication to pushing the barriers of the sport on rock and in alpine terrain; their extensive community outreach through slide presentations and film festivals; their work with clothing and gear companies in designing and promoting cutting-edge equipment; and their dedication to capturing the most inspiring photos and footage from the most extreme places on earth," wrote Peter Mortimer, of Boulder's Sender Films, for which Johnson was filming.

Mortimer's message was part of a plea put out to the climbing community to help raise funds for the rescue effort. Donations are being collected at the Website for Copp's organization, www.adventurefilm.org.

The trio was last heard from May 20 at the base camp of Mount Edgar, which is 22,900 feet above sea level according to Xinhua.
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--Marc

If for some reason you are in the Boulder area and don't have a computer, the Boulder Rock Club is collecting donations. Their address is:

2829 Mapleton Ave
Boulder, CO 80301

We'll send all money donations to the Jonny Copp, Micah Dash and Wade Johnson Search Fund.

Feel free to call us if you can't find us: 800-836-4008 x4

Peace be with them.

Latest news release...
latest press release from the search effort:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Robb Shurr, Kickstand Communications
303-304-9580
robb@wearekickstand.com


Climber's Body Found in China

June 6, 2009, Boulder, CO—A body has been found in avalanche debris at 4000 meters on Mount Edgar (6818 meters/22,368 feet) on the Minya Konka massif, Western Sichuan Province, China. It is believed to be one of the American climbers currently being searched for, though there is no positive identification at this time.

A team of local Chinese climbers has initiated the search effort. More Chinese and American climbers are en route to the area.

The three American climbers are from Boulder, Colorado—Jonathan Copp (age 35), Micah Dash (age 32), and Wade Johnson (age 24)—and have not been heard from since May 20.

“We are working hard to get a positive i.d. on the climber’s body and are keeping the search effort underway,” says Robb Shurr, spokesperson for the search effort.

A blog with up to date information and a fund to help assist in search and rescue efforts has been set up at adventurefilm.org/.

No other information is currently available. As soon as more information becomes available it will be shared. Please do not contact friends and family due to the sensitive nature of the situation.


Deepest sympathy and condolences to family and friends. This is looking like it will not end the way we all hoped. Very sad.