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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Climber’s remains discovered in China


Boskoff
 (The Spokesman-Review)
Nancy Bartley Seattle Times

SEATTLE – The body of noted climber Christine Boskoff has been found eight months after she disappeared while climbing Genyan Massif in a remote region of northern China.

After making attempts in May, searchers discovered the body of the 39-year-old owner of Mountain Madness, a Seattle adventure-travel company, on July 3 at the 17,000-foot level, along with her camera and passport.

The body of her climbing partner, Charlie Fowler, was found in the same area in December.

Both Boskoff and Fowler are believed to have died in an avalanche sometime in November. Boskoff’s body will remain on the mountain for another month, giving a crew of 15 time to ascend to the site and bring it down. A memorial service in her native Appleton, Wis., will follow.

Mountain Madness President Mark Gunlogson said crews from the Seattle company had made repeated climbs to the area, but there “was clearly too much snow” until July 3.

One of the world’s top climbers, Boskoff divided her time between Norwood, Colo., and Seattle. She bought Mountain Madness in 1997 from the estate of the late Scott Fischer, who died on Mount Everest in 1996.

Boskoff climbed six mountains higher than 26,000 feet, an accomplishment few mountaineers achieve.

In October, she and Fowler had just completed leading a group to the summit of Cho Oyu, on the border between Nepal and Tibet, when they left to climb Genyan Massif in China’s Sichuan Province.

On Dec. 27, Fowler’s body was found buried in an avalanche at the 17,000-foot level at the base of the final and most technical route to the 20,354-foot summit.

Searchers had to wait until spring to continue looking for Boskoff.

Boskoff grew up in Wisconsin, the youngest child and only daughter in a family of boys. Always athletic, she loved tennis and worked her way through the University of Wisconsin, becoming an electrical engineer. But she dreamed of a career in the mountains.

Fundraisers in Seattle and Telluride, Colo., helped pay for the search for Boskoff’s body.

Friends of Boskoff have set up a fund to establish a school in Nepal in her name through the nonprofit Room to Read, which builds schools and libraries.

Boskoff was a former Room to Read board member who loved the people and cultures she encountered through traveling – especially the children of Nepal, said John Wood, founder and chief executive officer of the agency.

“She was selfless in pursuit of our mission,” he said, “and passionate in her belief that children throughout the developing world should have access to great schools, teachers, libraries and books.”