Hooked on a mystery

Posted at 11:03 AM on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008

When ice climbers spotted the frozen body of a World War II airman on a glacier in 2005, I wrote a story about it. That's all it took. I was so hooked.

I immediately wanted to climb up there and see what this glacial tomb looked like. Call it creepy fascination.

I'm going Sept. 6. There's a chance we might find another frozen airman. I'd like to take you along with blogs from the land of ice and granite.

I'll explain a little more, but first things first: Why has it taken three years to get around to this terrible thrill?

That first body was found in October 2005. The snow already was flying, so that chance was shot.

I wound up walking 78 miles on the John Muir Trail the next summer as part of The Fresno Bee's project to explore that famous trail. So 2006 was gone, too.

The second body was found in August 2007. That's about where my memory ends. Sorry. The economy went in the toilet. So did my home equity and my sanity.

Then it was 2008. Fellow reporter Cyndee Fontana said we should team up and write about the ice mummies on Mendel. After adequate caffeination, we came up with a plan to write about mummies, aviation in the Sierra and enough morbid mysteries to choke the Internet. Plus there's the hike to the glacier.

"Here's the deal," said Cyndee. "You climb up to 13,000 feet. Sweat in the day, freeze at night and find something completely scary from 1942. I'll be back here writing, researching and sipping the perfect latte."

"Done," I said.

Mount Mendel is looking taller now. But photographer Mark Crosse, my longtime backpacking partner, is game. I still have my map from the Muir Trail -- we actually camped within view of Mount Mendel when we stopped in Evolution Valley.

All I need now is advice from you. What do you hear about this area this year?

Tell me about bugs, snowmelt, thunderstorms, critters, madcap stories, whatever. Meantime, my future blogs will give you a little more of an idea about what's coming in September.