Newspaper article in Hanford Sentinel

Here is another story about mom's last hike. It was an interview in the Hanford Sentinel with Karen Lafferty, who was hiking with mom for the week. We are awaiting the official report from the Sheriff's department. This should have more details.

Local woman describes mountain ordeal

By Seth Nidever
snidever@HanfordSentinel.com

Hiking her favorite trails in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, 58-year-old Hanford resident Karen Lafferty never worried about the weather. It was warm and dry. The last thing on her mind was hypothermia. But on Friday on the Pacific Crest Trail near Lake Tahoe, at more than 8,900 feet above sea level, a bitterly cold rain blowing in gusts of nearly 100 miles per hour, the temperature with the wind chill dropping well below freezing, it was a different story.

Lafferty and her three companions -- Harold Herlan, 65, of San Diego; Pamela Bryant, 49, of El Cajon; and Phyllis Hall, 62, of Clackamas, Ore. -- were caught in a freezing storm, and at the worst possible time.

They had lost track of where Hall was, and Herlan, his cotton T-shirt and jeans soaked, was already suffering from hypothermia, the condition where the core body temperature drops dangerously low.

So Herlan, Bryant and Lafferty had no choice but to jam themselves into a two-person tent to get warm as darkness fell and the temperature plummeted.

Their last communication with Hall was by cell phone.

Lafferty

According to Lafferty, Hall reported that she was setting up camp in a clump of trees a few miles away.

Saturday morning, with the storm still raging and light snow falling, Lafferty, Herlan and Bryant took turns calling 911 on their cell phones and talking to rescuers, who located the three and took them out, one by one, on the back of ATVs.

It was too late for Hall.

According to Lafferty, rescuers found her alive but unconscious at her campsite.

Hall later died at a Truckee hospital, leaving Lafferty and the others wondering what they could have done to prevent the tragedy.

Lafferty wishes she had "forced" Hall to stay with the group.

But Hall had a penchant for hiking at her own pace, often separated from the group.

In good weather, it wouldn't have been a problem.

But with conditions deteriorating rapidly, separation proved deadly.

If the four had been together, two each would have crammed into waterproof-two person tents, warming each other and likely keeping everybody alive.

“That’s why we kind of blame ourselves,” Lafferty said.

The four hikers faced the ultimate combination of factors for hypothermia -- cold temperatures, blowing wind and heavy rainfall.

"When you get wet, your ability to tolerate low temperatures is lower," said Dr. Imamu

Modern backpacking clothing is an array of synthetics that don't absorb water and dry easily.

Tomlinson, a backpacker himself, mentioned the mistake of wearing cotton, which absorbs water quickly and doesn't dry fast, a bad combination in the kind of cold, wet conditions Lafferty and her group experienced.

Lafferty said that she was well equipped with a waterproof jacket, waterproof boots and water resistant pants.

She's not so sure about whether Hall was adequately equipped.

Tomlinson, director of emergency services at Hanford Community Medical Center.Herlan, one of the organizers of the hike, was the only one wearing cotton, Lafferty said.

Lafferty said she planned to go backpacking again, but she's learned some hard lessons.

One is the importance of staying together and regrouping.

Another is having a storm-worthy tent.

In July, Lafferty hiked for several days in the High Sierra without a tent, her down sleeping bag exposed to what proved to be warm and dry conditions.

She'll be bringing a tent every time now, she said.

“You almost want to ignore forecasts and be ready for all temperatures and weather situations,” Tomlinson said.

Another lesson Lafferty learned is that she should be more familiar with the route and the planning process than on this trip, where Bryant and Herlan did the planning and Lafferty and Hall were basically along for the ride.

Lafferty also now recognizes the risk of hiking this late in the season, when unpredictable storms can quickly bring winter conditions to the Sierra.

She recognizes what she did right. She had the proper clothing, she had a warm sleeping bag, and she had a day or two worth of extra food for just the kind of situation she found herself in this past weekend.

She also recognizes what went wrong.

"It just teaches you a lesson. These things happen, and you have to learn from them," Lafferty said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

October 7, 2008

A goodbye letter and tribute to the love of my life, Phyllis Elaine Hall

Oct. 8, 2008

My Dearest Phyllis,
I know you can’t read this letter, but I must send it to you anyway. My heart is broken. I only wish I had stayed with you the last three days so I could have taken care of you and prevented this terrible tragedy. I had no idea that you would be in any danger. I knew you loved hiking the PCT so I didn’t try to talk you out of staying for the extra days beyond what you originally planned.
You have been such a blessing in my life and you left me with such a wonderful family including 4 precious grandchildren. Through them, you live on. You also filled my life with rich memories over our 43 years of marriage and companionship which we celebrated a few weeks ago with hiking trips you planned at Mt. Rainier and the Goat Rocks. I know you loved being in the mountains, it was your greatest delight next to your family. Here are but a very few of the precious memories you’ve left me:
• Watching you walk down the aisle at our wedding in the gorgeous gown you made yourself. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to marry such a beautiful woman -- my high school sweetheart. We were married August 29, 1965 at the Walla Walla College chapel. For our honey moon we went camping and hiking at Mount Rainier and we’ve returned every year except the three years while I was in graduate school at Loma Linda University.
• I saw the joy and hard work you experienced that next year as you joined the Yeti Mountaineer’s Club on campus, took the mountaineering course, and graduated by climbing Mt. Hood, Mt. St.Helens (when there was a top), Mt. Adams, and eventually Mt. Rainier. The more you hiked and climbed, the stronger you got and eventually your severe asthma symptoms disappeared for over 25 years. Hiking and adventures in the out-of-doors became your love and passion.
• I also remember the thrill of walking down the aisle with you as we graduated together at WWC in 1968 - to both our parents’ amazement. I remember when you took tests at the beginning of college to see what you should major in and your tests indicated a forest ranger or cowboy. They didn’t offer that at WWC so you took Home Economics. But the tests were right!
• I loved watching you carry and deliver our first child in 1969 at Troy, Idaho. I was amazed as I watched you walk 4 miles everyday during your pregnancy even up to the day before David was born - and even rode a horse to hurry things along the last day. I remember your great love and tenderness as you nursed and took care of our first baby, David. It was a delight to see you so happy and grow into the wonderful, dedicated mother you became.
• I remember how you immensely enjoyed carrying your second child. You were never more happy, enthusiastic, and energetic as when you were pregnant. I remember you sitting in the lawyer’s office signing mortgage documents for our first home when labor pains began. You signed papers between contractions. Finally I got you out to the car and rushed you to emergency at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane. We called the doctor who was out playing golf. I went down to park the car and ran back up stairs just as the doctor arrived. Before he could even get his gloves on, Heather was born and he basically caught her in his hands and pronounced: “A beautiful baby girl!” who we named Heather Renee, born the last day in May, 1973. It was all over in about half an hour. You were ready to go home, but the doctor said you should stay in the hospital for at least a few hours, so when you weren’t holding or feeding Heather you handwrote all the birth announcements and had them ready to mail that afternoon! Later that same day you went home, beaming with joy.
• I remember how devoted you were to your children. You home-schooled both of them the first two years. You planned your own curriculum, bought your own books, and went on field trips you planned yourself. You did a great job because both children excelled in school.
• I remember your encouragement and loving support as I went back to graduate school at LLU, and your financial commitment to me and our family by working in the LLU Medical Center food service department as a tray line supervisor and later as the cook for Meals on Wheels.
• I remember the courage and determination that year you exhibited by joining the Loma Linda Lopers running club and training to become a runner. You were already walking but you wanted to become a runner. You trained by alternating walking and jogging, struggling for over a year before you could run your first mile continually. I thought you’d never become a runner because of your severe asthma problems. But you never gave up and within 6 more months you progressed to the place where you completed your first of many marathons - a full 26 miles.
• Since those years we made many more memories together by participating in numerous marathons throughout the West, in addition to the Boston marathon and the New York marathon which you signed us up for to celebrate your 50th birthday. You always loved a challenge.
• I especially appreciated your support and encouragement to start our own business when I was not sure what direction my career should take. We started working out of our home. I wrote computerized health appraisals. You helped sell them, collected the money, kept the books, did the shipping and together we started a health promotion business now recognized nationally and serving over 700 hospitals and 1500 other organizations throughout the United States and 6 other nations. Your contributions, financial oversight, and investment strategies were critical to its success.
• After our kids got into academy and college, your adventures turned more to hiking mountain trails and you learned about the Pacific Crest Trail which stretched from Canada to Mexico. You decided that would be your next great challenge and began hiking the trail in sections whenever you could get a free week or weekend. Sometimes I could go too, but much of the time you hiked it alone. You would return home walking on the clouds, energized by the adventure. Your hikes often took you 20, 25 and even 30 miles in a day. Some sections were not easily accessible by road so we would backpack those sections together or with friends. In a few years you had finished Washington and Oregon, and you began hiking the PCT in California.
• I remember the joys and challenges of hiking the John Muir section of the trail with you, about 240 miles of High Sierra Mountains, crossing passes between 10,000 and 13,000 feet. I remember one day how we cowarded behind a huge granite boulder trying to escape a frightening afternoon thunder storm accompanied by fierce winds, driving rain and sleet, lightening and deafening thunder all around. I wrapped a tarp around you as we huddled together. We reemerged an hour later as the storm rolled by, then finished our climb over 13,200 foot Forester Pass. You loved the excitement and even the long hard hours of carrying heavy packs over these high mountain trails. You would often be exhausted, but after a good night’s sleep you were eager for the next day’s challenge.
• Other adventures and memories we shared were biking trips such as the 42-mile ride across Oregon, the 320-mile ride through New England for a week in October to enjoy the Fall colors, riding the Canadian Ice Field Highway between Banff and Jasper, by Lake Louise, and meeting moose, bear, elk, mountain sheep, and other animals on our bikes along the way. Our third biking trip through this rugged Canadian terrain you offered to drive support van, and then hiked Canadian Rocky Mountain trails along the way. We also packed our bikes and travelled to Europe to join a group of 6 others bicycling across Germany and Austria. Biking was hard for you, but you came along because you didn’t want to miss out and to support me. On our last bicycling trip together this summer you chose to ride the Swiss train and hike and explore along the way as I biked across Switzerland. We rendezvoused daily for a picnic lunch, where we shared experiences and explored castles, mountain lakes, or quaint Swiss villages before finishing the day’s journey. At the end, you arranged 5 extra days to hike in the Swiss Alps, climbing mountain trails to the face of the Eiger and Jungfraujoch, and going to the “Top of Europe.” In the evening we explored and dined in the alpine villages of Wengen and Murren. You chose to climb the mountaineer’s trail rather than riding the gondola up to the 10,000 foot Schilthorn. You always loved a challenge and seldom took the easy way out.
• I will always treasure the memories of our many travels together as we explored Japan (including riding the trains at rush hour and running around the Emperor’s Palace)and travelled throughout China, crossing Tibet and climbing on Mt. Everest. You always enjoyed history and especially liked our visit to Jordan and Egypt to explore the pyramids, walk through the Valley of the Kings, and follow in the footsteps of Jesus across Israel. You loved the historical sites in Italy and Greece including the original site of the Olympics where we ran a lap on the Olympic race track (built 300 years before the time of Christ). You loved exploring the Greek Isles, Spain, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Russia, Australia, Guam, Micronesia, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and our last trip this summer in Northern Europe as we explored Norway’s Fjords and climbed mountain trails surrounded by spectacular waterfalls, mountain peaks, glaciers, and reindeer. You’ve been a wonderful companion with which to explore this awesome world God made for us.
• I thank you for being such a wonderful companion with a spirit of adventure that greatly enriched my life. I treasure the memories of our awesome 38th wedding anniversary at the Persimmon Country Club, which you planned for us and our many friends 5 years ago, and my surprise 60th birthday party last year at Eagles Landing with all our friends. I also treasure the memory of our recent wedding vow renewal ceremony I surprised you with in Hawaii, by the ocean, on a warm sandy beach in December; just the two of us in a traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremony, the minister, Hawaiian singers, and traditional hula dancing, as we recommitted our love to one another.
• I also treasure the memories of how you loved to help people, especially young people. You invited half a dozen or more college students to live with us over the years so they could afford to go to school. You financially assisted many more so they could go to college. You didn’t just help them financially, but you also encouraged, guided, and counseled them. One student you tutored received an award for the “most improved student” last year at Portland Adventist Academy. This year alone you sponsored two college students and two academy students, young people that wouldn’t be able to be in a Christian school without your help, and it was your greatest joy to do so.
• You loved serving people. One of your greatest joys was having family and friends to your home for dinner. You kept a guest book and some years you’d have over 500 people for dinner. Last month you hosted the LLU School of Health reunion at our home here in Portland. You loved cooking, setting a beautiful table - complete with flower arrangements from your own garden - and being a gracious host.
• You loved your family and spent much of your time caring for us, feeding us, planning excursions and picnics, making your famous potato salad, leading family hikes in the Columbia Gorge, getting tickets for all of us to attend the Singing Christmas Tree and numerous other special events throughout the year. You made each holiday special. You made our lives rich with your love of life and service to others.
• You loved holding your grandchildren, reading them Bible stories, praying for them that they would grow up to love Jesus as you did, and starting an educational endowment for each grandchild the year they were born.
Thank you, Phyllis, for being such a wonderful mother, wife, grandmother, friend, business women, and most of all a companion. You’ve been a great blessing to my life, your family, and many, many others. I will miss you greatly, but you will ever be in my heart. Your life lives on in the lives of your family, grand children, and friends you’ve helped during your life and I can’t wait until I can take your hands in mine again and hold you tight on that beautiful resurrection morning. I love you dearly. Goodbye my love.
Donnie

College Place service on Mt. Hope

Here are a couple of pictures from the graveside service on Thursday. Many family and friends were present. It was really nice to have such strong support. We enjoyed visiting with many people, some that we had not seen in a long time. Pastor George Gainer had touching words for us all. Dad gave a detailed and humorous summary of mom's life. Afterwords, we all met in the WWU alumni center for a yummy lunch prepared by Laura Hall. Thanks Laura.

Here is a poem that dad found that means a lot to him.

Love Lives On
(Amanda Bradley)

Those we love
are never really lost to us -
we feel them
in so many special ways-
through friends
they always cared about
and dreams they left behind,
in beauty that they added to our days...
in words of wisdom we still carry with us
and memories that never will be gone...
Those we love are never really lost to us -
For everywhere their special love lives on.

Brief Life Sketch of Phyllis Elaine Hall

• Born in Portland Oregon Dec. 26, 1945 to Dorothy and Byron Miller.
• Moved to Cheyenne Wyoming for two years while her dad worked building homes.
• Returned to Portland where she grew up and attended Portland Union Elementary school and academy through the 11th grade.
• Moved to College Place where she graduated from WWC Academy, 1964.
• August 29, 1965, married Don Hall in the Walla Walla Chapel.
• 1968, graduated from Walla Walla College with a major in Home Economics.
• May 1, 1969, first child born, David Edward Zachary Hall at Moscow Idaho.
• 1970 Reached the summit of Mt. Rainier in Washington State.
• 1976 Completed first marathon, the Orange Grove Marathon in Loma Linda.
• May 31, 1973, second child born, Heather Renee Hall at Spokane Washington.
• 1983 Started Wellsource Inc. As a business partner with husband, Don Hall.
• 2003 Finished the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington and Oregon.
• 2004 started hiking the California Pacific Crest Trail.
• 2008 completed 700 miles of the California PCT.
• Oct. 4, 2008, died in a terrible storm on the Pacific Crest Trail near Lake Tahoe.

Survived by husband, Don Hall, children David Hall and Heather Tourville, and four grand children, Zachary Hall, MacKenzie Hall, Hunter Tourville, and Eden Tourville, and sister Cheryl Butherus.

Blessed by close family and friends

The Hall family thanks all of you for the great support and empathy we have received over the past few days. We read every comment posted here. It's helpful to read all of your responses and memories of mom. Thanks for sharing past stories about time you've spent with Phyllis. We like to read about her impact on others. Please feel free to add more stories in the comments section.

An article came out in the Oregonian today about mom. You can read it here.

Grave side service in College Place, WA

We will be having a brief, grave side service for mom at the Mt. Hope cemetery on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 1 pm. All those who are interested may attend. This may be closer for some of you instead of Portland. Phyllis will be buried next to her mother and father on the hill that overlooks Walla Walla University (College).

Memorial Service changed to 3:30PM on Saturday.

The service on Saturday, Oct. 11 will start at 3:30 pm instead of 3 pm.

Photos from mom's final backpack trip

Here are some pictures from mom's backpack trip last week. She loved hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail. She was working on completing the entire trail in sections. It goes from the Mexican to the Canadian border. She had completed all of the Washington and Oregon sections. She had also finished quite a bit in California. Her plan last week was to complete another 60+ mile section in the Lake Tahoe area. Dad spent the first part of the week hiking with her and friends. She then planned to finish the last 2 days with her beloved hiking friends.

Google Earth topo map of Tinkers Knob

Here is a Google Earth map of Tinkers Knob where the rescue occurred. The PCT goes right along this ridge. It is high elevation, 8000 - 9000 feet. This area is very exposed with no shelter. It is definitely not an area that you would want to spend a cold, stormy night. The coordinates are 39.24500 N by 120.284 W, for you map enthusiasts. It is therapeutic for me to research the area to understand the geography and conditions that were involved.

I found a blog account of a hiker climbing up to Tinkers Knob and back. It has a good description of the trail and surrounding area as well as several pictures of the terrain. You may click here if you want to read the account.

Local Lodging if needed.

Many people are coming in from out of town. We have been asked about local hotels. Here is a list of hotels in the Clackamas area.

Courtyard - Portland Southeast
9300 SE Sunnybrook Blvd
Clackamas, OR 97015

Get Directions

(503) 652-2900

Days Inn - Clackamas
9717 Se Sunnyside Road
Clackamas, OR 97015

Get Directions

(503) 654-1699

Monarch Hotel
12566 SE 93rd Ave
Clackamas, OR 97015

Get Directions

(503) 652-1515

Best Western Sunnyside Inn
12855 SE 97th Ave
Clackamas, OR 97015-9762

Get Directions

(503) 652-1500

Memorial Service Saturday, Oct. 11, 3 pm.

A memorial service for Phyllis is planned for next Saturday at Pleasant Valley SDA Church. Everyone is invited to come. The address is: 1125 SE 172nd Ave, Happy Valley OR 97086-8669. Phone: 503/658-2248. Senior pastor is George Gainer.

An updated newspaper account of the accident has been posted by the Sacramento Bee. The article can be found here.

Mom passes away in her beloved mountains

Phyllis is survived by her husband Don, children David and Heather, and grandchildren. We are all shocked and devastated. Mom died doing something she lived for, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Services are currently being planned. Further details and information will be posted here. Feel free to leave your comments here at the blog. This is the easiest way to contact our family. Thanks so much for all the support. You can read initial details of the tragedy here and here.

Marathon world record set in Berlin

Wow, I just read that Haile Gebrselassie from Ethiopia set a new world record. He ran the marathon in 2:03:59. That is smoking fast. Read about it here.

Do you know who represents you?

Dave and Bev's:

US representative Oregon 3rd district, Earl Blumenauer (D)
US Senators, Ron Wyden (D), Gordon Smith (R)
State senator, district 24, Rod Monroe (D)
State representative, district 48, Mike Schaufler (D)

Check your government representatives here.

Dave Ramsey on the $700 billion question

Trying to figure out who to listen to about this $700 billion "buyout" is difficult. Experts seem to disagree. The financial system is very complex and way beyond my knowledge. I read this article by Dave Ramsey, who I trust. I'm definitely coming to the conclusion that the government should not spend the money to buyout the poor mortgage lending practices of banks. Check it out at http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/fed_bailout/economic_cleanup_10887.htmlc.

Tulip Fields

A few Sabbaths ago we visited the tulip fields in Woodburn, Oregon. They were beautiful. The kids had a fun time playing in the flowers. Here are some portraits that Bev and I took of them.

Update

Dave and Bev's Blog

It's been a long time since I have posted anything here. I guess I am not a very faithful writer. Bev, MacKenzie, and I are getting ready to drive up to Seattle. Bev and I will take turns riding bikes with Steve (Bev's brother) as he does the Seattle to Portland ride. There are 9000 people signed up for the event. The ride is 100 miles per day. It looks like it will be beautiful weather. Click on the link to the right, "Our picture database" to find nature pictures of our trip to Florida.

Hunter William Tourville

Heather and Brandon are the proud parents of a new baby boy. He is a strong 8 lbs. 14 oz. and about 19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. Hunter had a surprise for everyone. He was in full breach position. Furthermore, mom and dad were planning on a girl for most of the pregnancy, but Hunter had other plans. A last minute ultrasound before delivery indicated he was all boy. More pictures are available by clicking on the link to the right to Dave's and Bev's picture site.

Christmas Day

Zach loves swimming. He has been practicing almost every day. He kicks all the way down the pool with his board. He keeps Papa Hall very busy.


We all met at Heather and Brandon's house for Christmas dinner. There was lots of good food and good company.

Dad instructs Steve on the finer points of Dancing. Dad is getting pretty good.

Grandma enjoys Christmas

Grandma Miller came for Christmas also. Pam drove over to Walla Walla and brought Grandma for a few days. It was sure good to see her. She saw MacKenzie for the first time. Zach is a lot taller than the last time she saw him. Heather and Brandon had many new gifts for their baby girl they are expecting in February. Sheryl, Pam, Steve, and Cody drove up from Northern California. We had a great time with a big family Christmas.

MacKenzie's First Christmas

MacKenzie models some new clothes. Heather and Brandon gave her the hat. We all had a great time opening presents, especially Zach.

This is Kenzie's first Christmas. She had big eyes looking at all the brightly wrapped gifts.

Sabbath

We had a fun weekend. Ama and Papa Walters stayed with us. They really helped out around the house. Bev and Dick finished the chair railing in Zach's room. We also had the pleasure of Brian and Darla visiting. It was great to see them. It's been awhile. They are doing great. We are excited to be closer to them when we move to Portland. Darla even took this great picture of Brian holding MacKenzie. He looks like a natural to me.

Ama enjoys going with Zach to his Sabbath school. Zach loves all of Ama's attention. Papa Walters loves to hold MacKenzie. He gets her right to sleep every time. He's pretty proud of her.

Thanksgiving family pictures

Bev and MacKenzie

Thanksgiving Sabbath, we went into the Walter's back yard for some family photos. MacKenzie and Zach wore their matching Sabbath cloths. We had a great and relaxing Thanksgiving.

Zach has been having fun visiting Ama and Papa Walters over the past few months. All of us visited for Thanksgiving. Zach wanted a picture with fluffy the kitty. Zach has his Sabbath clothes on. He loves to play outside and help in the orchard.

Hi everyone. This is our first entry in our new blog. Bev, Zach, MacKenzie and I are moving to Portland. I took a new job there and will be working as the medical director for the occupational medicine clinic at Portland Adventist Medical Center. I'm excited about the new work. We will move to Portland at Christmas time. Bev has found a house for us to rent. We plan to buy a house eventually. We want some more time to look around and find a house. We will let you know our new address when we get it. Merry Christmas.