Search for Boskoff delayed -- till spring

From the AP:

The search for the body of U.S. mountain climber (and Colorado resident ) Christine Boskoff on a remote peak in China has been halted, probably until spring, a spokesman for Boskoff’s Seattle-based travel adventure company said today.

David Jones, a director of Boskoff’s company, Mountain Madness, said winter weather has made it unsafe to continue looking for her body. “Winter is definitely setting in in China and this area and there is a very high likelihood the search and recovery effort will be called off until the spring,” Jones said.

Boskoff disappeared along with fellow climber and photographer Charlie Fowler weeks ago while they were approaching China’s 20,354-foot Genyen Peak. A body found in the snow was identified as Fowler, friends of the pair said Thursday.

Fowler and Boskoff were not roped together — as friends initially believed they would be — when they were apparently buried by an avalanche high on the peak.

Jones said todaythat it has been snowing at the mountain’s 17,000-foot level, and searchers were called out of the avalanche field because conditions were too dangerous. He said Mountain Madness officials will keep in contact with people in China and will resume the search when conditions permit. Fowler’s body was being removed, but will take days to leave the remote area, Jones said.