Search Efforts For American Alpinists in Pakistan Prove Unsuccessful

Search efforts for Kyle Dempster and Scott Adamson, American climbers missing in Pakistan, have been called off. Photo: Instagram

An unsuccessful search effort in Pakistan for American alpinists Kyle Dempster and Scott Adamson has left the climbing community reeling. On Saturday, two helicopter search flights of the Ogre, the 23,000-foot mountain in the Karakoram range the pair was attempting to climb, and a search party on foot, turned up nothing.

“In light of those extensive yet unsuccessful efforts…there remained a very slim chance that any evidence of their passage would be revealed in subsequent sweeps of the mountain,” said Jonathan Thesenga, a Black Diamond spokesperson, in a statement.

Dempster, 33, and Adamson, 34, left basecamp on August 21, and were last spotted high on the notorious peak on August 23 before a long storm socked it in.

Climber Renan Ozturk took to Facebook, saying:

“I’ve been in that position of trying to climb a Mtn and it being worth dying for… I still believe they will appear from the void but in their absence I’ll turn to @jthesenga who understood it more than most: “There’s a lot of love in this world. And, unfortunately, a lot of loss. This week we lost Kyle and Scott who many, many people loved.”

Here’s a sampling of the outpouring of support and memories on social media from those who knew them:

The search for Kyle Dempster and Scott Adamson on Ogre 2, in the Karakoram, has been called off. I had met Scott briefly a few years back in Michigan. He was so humble and willing to help so many people. Even myself when I was struggling to get up the ice. Thank you Scott, without you I might not be where I am today. My heart is full of anger and sadness right now. These two were taken from us too early. Wherever their spirits are, I believe them to be at peace. They died living out the courage to be their full selves. I know they weren’t fearless. I know they knew the risks. And I know we will never forget them. Photo: @andy_mann

A photo posted by Joe Segreti (@joe_segreti) on Sep 5, 2016 at 7:07am PDT

Really gonna miss this guy. I highly suggest you all watch his movie “The Road from Karakol” on Vimeo. It’s 100% pure Kyle and it will make you want to get out and explore this amazing world. Thanks for always keeping us laughing and inspired to get out of our comfort zone. @dempsterkyle #kyledempster #theroadfromkarakol @ducttapethenbeer

A video posted by B W (@bigmtnbill) on Sep 4, 2016 at 10:12am PDT

#kyledempster #scottadamson anyone who follows #alpineclimbing will have heard these two are lost on #theogre in #pakistan 10 days overdue on a face that doesnt accommodate that sort of thing. If they survive it will be legend, if not a significant moment in #climbinghistory. I hope they start an award in their names, to honor what climbing can be in the era they helped define. The ogre itself is a fitting memorial. Photo nicked from #cilogear_official more info there

A photo posted by Edrisk (@ecdhannam) on Sep 3, 2016 at 8:28pm PDT

Many climbers knew the pair only through articles and photos in climbing publications. But Dempster’s video of his 2011 solo bicycling and climbing expedition in Kyrgyzstan, viewed 250,000 times, gave the world a very personal look at a bold, humble, endearing climber.