Mississippi Head Loop & the B26 Plane Crash - 08/22/11

[Chase]

Earlier in this thread there's an article on the B26 crash, which happened in April 1949. I accidentally found a follow-up while looking for Timberline Trail articles. Seems they recovered the bodies in August 1949. The article is a fascinating read (reward offered, wreckage accidentally found!) and I cropped it to include a great ad by Dr. Phillips below the original article. Enjoy!

[kepPNW]

This hike's been on my radar. From what I've read, it doesn't sound like there's any "sketchy" glacier crossings involved. Is that correct? Just some snow fields at the top of ZigZag, probably rapidly diminishing, and having a pair of microspikes along would in all likelihood be sufficient? Appreciate any insights.

Thanks!

[Peder]

Nothing sketchy involved. Do the loop as described (minus Split Rock, unless you like a detour). Just make sure that you go to 8,000' to cross SE above the Zigzag river canyon head wall.

As I noted in one post, there are more airplane remains about 100 yards further east (you have to go up to cross above a canyon to get there).

Have fun!

[kepPNW]

Hey, thanks Peder! I'll watch the GPS for that 8000' mark. You don't happen to have coords (or can point me to that other post) for the other crash site, do you?

[Peder]

You don't happen to have coords (or can point me to that other post) for the other crash site, do you?

Propeller: N45.35521 W121.72603
Exit at 8,000': N45.35821 W121.71513

[kepPNW]

You don't happen to have coords (or can point me to that other post) for the other crash site, do you?

Propeller: N45.35521 W121.72603

Ahhh, okay, that's the one I was aware of. (Same one the first post in this thread has photos of, right?) I thought you were saying there was another one up there in the same general vicinity. Sorry for the confusion! Thanks, Peder.

This weather is almost too perfect. Anyone else thinking about being up there tomorrow?

[Peder]

Karl - There is just more debris about 100 yards further east. That is what I was trying to say.

[kepPNW]

Ahhhhhh... Okay, sorry for being so dense. I'll scout around a bit up there! Thanks again...

[kepPNW]

Earlier in this thread there's an article on the B26 crash, which happened in April 1949. I accidentally found a follow-up while looking for Timberline Trail articles. ... The article is a fascinating read (reward offered, wreckage accidentally found!) and I cropped it to include a great ad by Dr. Phillips below the original article.

Excellent read, yeah. The ad is a hoot, too. I don't know what resource you have to get to this stuff, but it's fabulous. I noted that there was a reference to another story on Page 1, same day. Would it be possible to dig that one, too?

As I noted in one post, there are more airplane remains about 100 yards further east (you have to go up to cross above a canyon to get there).

Okay, was this a test?

100 yards east is about 250 yards straight down! I looked, I zoomed, I said "Good enough!"

..., but it is very strenuous and dangerous if you didn't know where you were going.

I'll affirm that, for anyone who may be casually thinking of going up there! Even if you do know where you're going, it's without question strenuous (all the loose rock and ash on steep slopes!) and potentially extremely dangerous (if you were to slip-slide on the wrong snowfield, kiss it goodbye!).

Unlike that August day almost exactly a year ago, I think I was the only soul up there yesterday between the Sandy viewpoint and the Palmer run.

[Chase]

Lots of details in there...