Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Wade Brunette

Jeanne and Children,
I thank Michelle for sending me this information. My prayers are with you and your families and, of course, with Wade.
Love, Donna
Kids, I was your mom's college roommate.

Wade is my brother – I am not skilled in climbing mountains yet at home on ice and snow. I feel I should be doing more than waiting for updates. Wade climbed higher than most and now only the pros can help him. I know this yet the feeling of helplessness is not native to my blood.

As family and friends await any news know that our prayers are with you as you search for my brother. Thank you.

I just returned from a three-week trip into the Canadian Rockies--the Switzerland of North America; and this I can attest to and then some. But I have come back to this Board to discover the situation with Wade and his family.


My heart and prayers are with the Brunettes.


Since the various write-ups describe Wade as an experienced hiker, I checked the Web and discovered a wonderful article written about Wade last year. Wade summited the third highest and most technical peak in the Olympics in August 2008.


Here is his summit photo:




It is a bit blurry and distant.


Here is another one of him at his base camp:



The entire write-up is on "Mike's Hikes" website: http://mikeshikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/mount-constance-lake-constance.html .

We all hope Wade's experience comes through and he makes it out ok.

Wayne;

Thank you so much for posting the great pictures of Wade out enjoying the mountains. and I love having a face to go with the prayers.

Its great to see his family members here too. Have you guys talked with Jeanne (Wades wife)to see if there is anything we can help with?

I know the Moosie is in town along with quite a few of the gang. Please let us know.

I'm Wade's daughter and I'm in Lone Pine with my mom. I've realized there are a lot of family and friends who want to know what's going on and I'm working on setting up a blog to post updates.

Brunette Family,
Just want you to know that a number of us who know Wade believe that he has the stamina and determination to hold out this long and longer if he is not seriously injured. He has the right kind of good old-fashioned stubbornness to show us all how to survive beyond the odds. I've been to the summit of Mt. Rainier, hiked to Camp Muir a dozen times in good & bad weather, and once we holed up in a tent for 16 hours on Mt. Baker during a storm, so I speak from a little experience. I just hope those helicopters are able to get up flying today - it's a huge area to cover. We are praying and many who don't even know Wade are praying along with us all... God bless those awesome SARS. Love & strength to you and Jeanne.
Tanya H (Aaron's wife)

FYI - Big thank you's go out to Wade's friend Mike who took these photos and also sent a good close up of Wade which were forwarded yesterday to the Parks rep via email for their use in finding him...

Military Helicopter is just going up for the second time this morning.

I just want to let Wade's family know that there a whole bunch of people who have not yet posted, but are following this story, praying for Wade and for you.
My prayers, thoughts, and all the positive energy I have are going out to you, Wade, the SAR folks, and anybody from this community that has ponied up to help. Bless you all.

If you need something, just give a holler. Many folks will step up.

Calm winds for the pilots, strong legs for those on the ground!

Scott Allen

Wayne, thanks for the post of the photo. Wade was wearing this same outfit on Sunday.

I'm up at the Portal and am happy to report that the winds finally dropped off in the middle of the night...temps are also much warmer than in the past few days.....

Here's hoping today is the day for a safe return...

I've created a blog to post updates, and I'll be adding more media links, pictures, etc. soon.

Searching for Wade

If anyone has solid information to add, let me know (maybe comment on the posts in the blog?). I'm trying to figure out how to manage the information.

Prayers sent for Wade's safe return.

Good Catch Steve, at least we know that they are up and flying.

Been following the board and this is my first time posting and want to forward all my prayers for Wade's safe return. I am astounded and deeply touched at the support of everyone associated with this website. All that I can hope is sometime soon Wade is with his family eating to his heart's content giving hugs to everyone.

Many Mahalo's To Everyone,

K

That is an awesome close up pic of the Chinook Steve.To the family of Wade and all the SAR team members, many prayers for everyones safety and good outcome.

My other sister Julie are flying from Indonesia and Australia to join my mom and sister Michelle Lone Pine tomorrow. Again I'd like to thank everyone involved in the rescue effort. Here's a close up of his face if that helps.

Via Con Dios Amigo

Prayers.

I'm a good friend of Kathryn's here in Australia.

Just letting you know that there are many of us here keeping watch, we send our heart felt wishes for a safe return of Kenneth.

Deborah

I'm Gerrit Hansen -- my wife is Wade's oldest child who just flew back from Indonesia to LA where she's meeting up with Kathryn, Wade's second child, who's coming from Australia. Michelle, the third child, is from Seattle and is there with Jeanne (as you've all seen on the forum). Thank you so much for your prayers, concern, and incredible efforts in searching for Wade. We're praying for a miracle. Wade loves hiking, the mountains, is an avid reader about rough-terrain adventure, and I've taken a few hikes with him myself. God bless you all!