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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 27, 2006 Latest news of climbers encourages local sister Jacksonville's Ginny Hicks was happy to hear searchers are focusing on one area for her brother and his climbing partner By paul fattig Mail Tribune AP Video Although Colorado mountain climber Charlie Fowler hasn't been heard from in the remote high altitudes of southwest China for more than a month, his sister in Jacksonville remains optimistic. "The medical doctors say the window in which they could still be alive is still open — that it would be open for up to 10 days," said Ginny Hicks, noting that estimate was based on the amount of food they took as well as other factors. "They are looking at today (Tuesday) as Day 4," she added. "But they also said that could be longer because they are mentally and physically strong." Fowler, 52, and Chris Boskoff, 39, two of the nation's top high-altitude climbers, hadn't been heard from by friends or relatives since Nov. 8. That's when they sent an e-mail after climbing the north face of the previously unclimbed 19,094-foot Haizi Mountain, also known as Yala Peak. Fowler has guided climbers up Mount Everest as well as other challenging peaks. He also is considered an expert on climbing the rugged mountains of southwest China. Boskoff, who is the owner of the Seattle-based adventure travel company Mountain Madness, has climbed six of the world's peaks over 26,000 feet, including Mount Everest. The two longtime partners live in Norwood, Colo. Advertisement Hicks, who is the principal of Griffin Creek Elementary School outside Medford, said she is encouraged that searchers have been able to narrow their search after a local driver notified them he had dropped the pair off Nov. 11 in a small Sichuan province village near the Tibetan border. "That's a lot better than searching in two provinces like they had been doing," she said. The driver told searchers the climbers had left two bags with him, and that they would pick up the bags on Nov. 24, Hicks said. She has kept in close contact with the U.S. Consulate in the region as well as Americans involved in the search. "They also found the journal that Charlie keeps," she said, adding it indicated they would be climbing nearby 20,354-foot high Genyen Peak. "There was a reference of going in one way and out another," she noted. More Tibetan climbers have been hired for the search, and a couple of medical doctors are on call now, she said. One medical doctor from Toronto who has climbed with her brother left Canada on Dec. 24 to join in the search effort, she said. Finally, Hicks is encouraged by the fact that a friend of Charlie's in Colorado who helped him pack for the trip said he took at least four weeks' worth of food. "The weather is cold but not snowing now," she said. "They said the weather is ideal for this type of search." The following Web sites are posting updates and details on the search for Fowler and Boskoff: Charlie Fowler: http://www.charliefowler.com Searchers' blog: http://fowlerboskoff.blogspot.com/ Mountain Madness: http://www.mountainmadness.com/ Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] . Related stories: 12-28-2006 - Family fears worst for climber: 'He had an incredible life' 12-27-2006 - Latest news of climbers encourages local sister 12-20-2006 - Survival prospects appear to fade for climbers 12-17-2006 - Brother of Medford woman overdue in China Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com