Updates on the missing American mountain climbers

We told you about Charlie Fowler and Christine Boskoff a few days ago. This site has proven to be the best source of updates on the search for the two well-known climbers. Unfortunately, none of the updates have included the news we are all hoping to hear. Here is the latest since Dec. 18:

• On December 18, 2006, the Chief of the Consular Section U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, China, reported that the governments of Yunnan and Sichuan Province and the Tibetan Autonomous Region are officially working on the Fowler-Boskoff case.

• On December 18, 2006, the field manager in Chengdu reported:
- Two foreigners were sighted about a month ago in a village north of Batang, one of the primary search areas (near Yangmalong Peak). A search team in the area was directed to focus their efforts on tracking down more information on this report.
- Four teams are currently out:
o Deqin: checking both entrance points to Unnamed Peak 6509
o Batang: Checked out Batang County seat together with government officials including County Chief. No records in hotels, one possible sighting a month ago in a restaurant.
o Litang County: Confirmed sighting of Charlie and Christine in an Internet café around the time of the November 8 email to friends in the U.S. Two unconfirmed sightings of them between November 15 and 20. Driver stated that Christine inquired about cars to Deqin. Also checking out rumors of a car accident on the Litang–Ganzi road in Xinlong County (north of Litang).
o Genyen: Checking out Genyen monasteries with a high monk.
- Two New Zealanders were robbed at knifepoint in Genyen area in October. They did not resist but their interpreter was injured. The attackers have not been found.

• On December 19, 2006, a concerted effort to corral politically weighted support for the search in hopes of elevating awareness at high levels within China was mounted from both Telluride CO and Seattle WA:
- Colorado Senator Ken Salazar (D-Colo) sent a letter to the U.S. Ambassador in Beijing expressing gratitude for the consular support—recent and future—regarding all aspects the search.
- The American Alpine Club contacted Representative Mark Udall (D-Colo) about the situation.
- Colleagues of former Washington Governor Gary Locke informed the Chief of Staff to Premier Wen JiaBao in person of the situation and the search efforts underway in the two provinces.
- Current Washington Governor Christine Gregoire sent a letter to the Governor of their sister city in Sichuan Province requesting support for the search.

• On December 20, 2006, the field manager in Chengdu reported:
- Found by one of the daily search teams in Litang in a visitors book at a restaurant:
o 9 November 06: “Great food and people, enjoyed the food. The mountains around Yading are awesome. Countryside reminds us of home. We’ll be back.” - Chris Boskoff and Charlie Fowler, Norwood, Colorado, US
- A reward has been set up in the amount of 30,000 RMB (approx. $4,000 USD) for information leading to the whereabouts of Fowler and Boskoff
o The monies were officially (and physically) handed to the Sichuan Mountaineering Association (SMA) today with a Sichuan TV station crew filming
o The “Missing” posters have been reprinted and redistributed with the reward info
o The Field Team in Dongba stated that, “the reward is attracting a lot of attention.”

• On December 20, 2006, CCN International from Beijing arrived in Chengdu to cover the story. They will “shadow” a field team heading for Kangding on December 21 and then travel on to Litang and Batang. Highlighted will be the search itself, the reward, the cooperation between the SMA and the search teams, and the towns themselves.

For the latest news, and to learn how you can aid the search efforts, visit fowlerboskoff.blogspot.com.