The pilot tried to save a few minutes by taking this shortcut through the mountain pass. Wifes brother died on this plane, coming home from the World Series. Pilots fault!

My brother was on this flight . I was 11 years old when it happened ,I still remember that day.

Wow, good to see a video out and even better than Winds are my backyard now - (Lander). Also good idea on bringing a high abv beer :) Side note: You're videos never lack quality. Cheers, and hope to see more videos!

its been forever since seen a video for you glad to see your still getting out there. hope to see more vids in the future

I was so pumped to see a video from you this morning! Epic trip, Chris!! Thanks for taking us along. As always, I've never been disappointed by your products, this one was no exception. Simply loved it. Pure gold. Dane

It's been so long it's great to see you back

Love the video. Nice job. Might try next year.What songs do you have in the background?

This is a video kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqPdmoebmpmVaMU of what a DC-4 can do. United Flight 409 flew into the mountain at cruise power. it was seen porpoising at the bottom of a crowd base. The best theory is carbon monoxide poising.. the bodies of the people showed discoloration. and shutting down United airline to inspect these world war 2 transport was not something the gov. was going to do and disrupt the airline industry.. I wish someone would really do an investigative video on this.. Several of the victims had recorded premonitions of impending death.. there are many wittiness of the plane seemingly fly with no control input. We lost 4 people from Towanda Pa. I would hope some of you would write a letter to our local paper and ask why there is no plaque honoring the 66 people who died in the largest domestic airplane crash up to that time. We named a parkway after one of the victim John B Merrill but know on knows why. Perhaps they could kill 4 birds with 1 stone. There is no plaque for our chief of police who solved the crime of the century, Chief Dean Meredith !!! Perhaps from letters from the outside world might make us snap out of it.. thedailyreview.com 116 Main Street Towanda, PA 18848 Phone: 570-265-2151 Email: [email protected]

This is a video kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqPdmoebmpmVaMU of what a DC-4 can do. United Flight 409 flew into the mountain at cruise power. it was seen porpoising at the bottom of a crowd base. The best theory is carbon monoxide poising.. the bodies of the people showed discoloration. and shutting down United airline to inspect these world war 2 transport was not something the gov. was going to do and disrupt the airline industry.. I wish someone would really do an investigative video on this.. Several of the victims had recorded premonitions of impending death.. there are many wittiness of the plane seemingly fly with no control input. We lost 4 people from Towanda Pa. I would hope some of you would write a letter to our local paper and ask why there is no plaque honoring the 66 people who died in the largest domestic airplane crash up to that time. We named a parkway after one of the victim John B Merrill but know on knows why. Perhaps they could kill 4 birds with 1 stone. There is no plaque for our chief of police who solved the crime of the century, Chief Dean Meredith !!! Perhaps from letters from the outside world might make us snap out of it.. thedailyreview.com 116 Main Street Towanda, PA 18848 Phone: 570-265-2151 Email: [email protected]

This is a video kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqPdmoebmpmVaMU of what a DC-4 can do. United Flight 409 flew into the mountain at cruise power. it was seen porpoising at the bottom of a crowd base. The best theory is carbon monoxide poising.. the bodies of the people showed discoloration. and shutting down United airline to inspect these world war 2 transport was not something the gov. was going to do and disrupt the airline industry.. I wish someone would really do an investigative video on this.. Several of the victims had recorded premonitions of impending death.. there are many wittiness of the plane seemingly fly with no control input. We lost 4 people from Towanda Pa. I would hope some of you would write a letter to our local paper and ask why there is no plaque honoring the 66 people who died in the largest domestic airplane crash up to that time. We named a parkway after one of the victim John B Merrill but know on knows why. Perhaps they could kill 4 birds with 1 stone. There is no plaque for our chief of police who solved the crime of the century, Chief Dean Meredith !!! Perhaps from letters from the outside world might make us snap out of it.. thedailyreview.com 116 Main Street Towanda, PA 18848 Phone: 570-265-2151 Email: [email protected]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4ulZYyciM91prM

Love your outlook on life, Man.

The spectacular high resolution northen New Mexico night sky - unimpeded by light pollution.

Hi Chris, I've been a Pilot since Age 17. I've been a Sub for some time now but never comment nearly as often on all my thumbs up as I should. This may have been a shorter Video but as an Outdoors-man I found your message and mood setting to be griping! Thanks Pal, I really felt this one. Blessings to Ya from Oregon, ... Mike.

This one makes me want to go backpacking even more thank you

ITs really not that bad. I did it without a climbing harness.

It would be helpful if you put the dates and exact route in the notes.

Thank you for sharing this video. I don't know if I would ever have the courage to do this but maybe some day.

Gayleen Mclean <[email protected]> Looking for answers Alabama author investigating tragic Flight 409 crash that killed 66, including four from Towanda It was 10 a.m. on Sept. 18 and the City of Laramie Parks and Cemetery crew had begun work on a court-ordered disinterment in the Greenhill Cemetery in Wyoming. The plot in question was a typical 4-by-9-foot space, according to Parks and Cemetery Crew Supervisor Scott A. Hunter. But inside the casket below was a collection of unidentified remains from United Airlines Flight 409. Considered the worst airline disaster of the time, 66 people were killed when the plane collided into part of Medicine Bow Peak, according to information on the University of Mexico's Rocky Mountain Online Archive. Oct. 6 marked the crash's 62nd anniversary. Among the victims was John B. Merrill of Towanda who, at the time, was vice president of Sylvania Electric Corp., and his wife, Ann Tompkins Merrill. John Merrill is also the namesake for the Merrill Parkway. They died along with J.E. McGarr of Towanda, the manager of Sylvania at the time, along with his wife, Margaret. An exact cause for the crash was never determined. Over the past three years, Sid McLean of Alabama has been investigating the circumstances that might have led to the tragedy, speaking with the families of the victims, coroners and others he could track down who had a connection with the crash. McLean was also the man behind the court-ordered disinterment at the Greenhill Cemetery. He plans to bring all of the information he has gathered together into a free book, including the findings from the disinterred remains. However, he said there is nothing he can share at this time. McLean's interest in Flight 409 extends back to his childhood, and his family's friendship with the plane's captain, Clinton C. Cooke Jr. "I was a teenager when they had the accident," McLean remembered. "I had heard from his son over a period of time about his concern that he thought they had somehow blamed his father for the crash," he continued. "That surprised me when he had told me about that. … It didn't sound right to me that he made any kind of mistakes." According to various accounts from the time, both men in the cockpit were experienced and had flown the route multiple times. McLean described Cooke as a smart and level-headed person who had two children and a pregnant wife at home. "He didn't make mistakes like that unless they weren't avoidable. That got me interested," he said. As a retired lawyer with time on his hands and the inclination to pursue the project, "I went up to Wyoming and got into it, and have been kind of working off and on ever since." According to the accident report filed by the Civil Aeronautics Board, Flight 409 had departed Oct. 5, 1955 from New York City on a course to San Francisco with several scheduled stops along the way. Cooke, along with First Officer Ralph D. Salisbury Jr., and stewardess Patricia D. Shuttleworth, took over as the plane's crew during a stop in Denver. During the transition, the CAB's report noted that the previous crew had conveyed no discrepancies with the plane. The CAB also found that the proper certifications were in place, the takeoff weight was within the allowable limits, the flight plan was properly prepared, the weather was good along the prescribed course, and that there were no signs of fire, malfunction or structural failure before the collision. The only questionable finding was that the plane "was observed flying in and out of clouds at an approximate altitude of 10,000 feet, 10 miles southeast of the accident scene and 21 miles west of the prescribed course." The collision took place at an altitude of 11,570 feet. The report also indicated that Cooke did not communicate any deviation from the flight plan with dispatch. "The board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in deviating from the planned route for reasons unknown," the report concluded. McLean feels that much more could have been done with the investigation instead of leaving it open-ended with "reasons unknown." "They didn't do a very thorough job," said McLean. "They did some things thoroughly and some things they didn't, and I think that's what got them (the CAB) in trouble. They missed a lot of obvious things they should have picked up on. I think I've picked up on them. … It was not the pilots' fault in any way. They were victims." McLean hopes his findings will clear the pilots' names and make their surviving families feel better about the incident, especially after the "reckless speculation" that McLean said followed in multiple news accounts. He also hopes to tell the stories of those who were on board, who brought with them a variety of backgrounds. Nearly one-third of the victims were young cadets going to join the U.S. Air Force in Canada, according to McLean. There were also a few experienced bomber and commercial pilots, and members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who were fresh off of their European tour and a shopping excursion in New York City. "There were some guys from Nevada who were maybe a little shady and had been at the World Series," he continued. "There were a few engineers and a few - there were two infants on there. Then the stewardess, this was her first six months on the job. She was from Connecticut." McLean doesn't plan to make any money on the book, choosing instead to give it away to those who have helped him and others who are interested in his findings. He then plans to submit all of the information he's gathered to the University of Wyoming archives. McLean is looking to start the writing process this winter, but can't say for sure when it will be completed. He also hopes to begin work next year to erect a memorial on state park land along Interstate 80 in Laramie. On it, his plan is to list the names of those who died and some facts about the crash. "Nobody ever built them a memorial like they normally would with a major crash like this," said McLean. " … That will be my final project. If I can get that done, then I'll retire and move onto something else." Looking for information Although McLean has followed many leads to connect with several sources as part of his investigation, there's still many more he hopes to speak with. This includes descendants of the McGarr and Merrill families. "I would like to have some kind of contact with those children if possible," said McLean. He urges any family members interested in speaking with him to write him at 2662 Swiss Lane, Birmingham, AL 35226.

I'm Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop in Oklahoma, husband and father of 4 boys. I stay busy. I really enjoy you videos. glad to hear your ok.

What's new Chris?

LOL you crack me up dude. I'm heading out there in a couple months and I hope I have as much fun with my three buddies as you had on your own. Keep up the soul searchin'. Thumbs up.

Great video! I hope to do Longs Peak at some point in foreseeable future

Holding the kid up in the air like Simba HAHAHAHAHAHAHA........... I'd do it

"NO ONE ELSE AROUND" ,, hahaha.... THE HILLS HAVE EYES

LOOK HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA A.......... That was the best thing I've heard all day. No easy prey Today !!!!! haha

Great flow and editing on this video.

Awesome video. We do hiking and outdoor vlogs and they are just a lot of fun! Great channel

A gentleman is looking into different scenarios that may have caused the crash of flight 409 from 1955 and presented a court order to exhume the remains for possible testing. On Monday September 18th at 10:00am Cemetery Staff proceeded with the disinterment. The remains were in a casket and sealed bag. However, Cemetery Staff takes precautions during any disinterment and the local authorities were present. That is all the information that I can supply you as the Cemetery Staff doesn’t follow the process after the testing. I am not sure what the ultimate goal for the testing was or if it will shed light on anything new that the authorities at the time did not know. Scott A. Hunter Parks and Cemetery Crew Supervisor City of Laramie Parks and Recreation 1.307.721.5257 | 1.307.761.0413

Nice Video ... BUT In case of a Fall you will likely kill your self! You are using static slings instead of a dedicated via verrata kit. A fall on a via ferrata easily generate fall factors grater then 2. Slings are not ment to deal with forces like that! On a fall the slings will most likely snap. If they don't, the abrupt halt can easily break your hips, give you a bad spine injury and/or a severe concussion!

62 years ago on Oct, 6, 1955 at least 65 innocent people were killed on United Flight 409 in Wyoming. Within an hour after taking off from Denver 4 residents from our area impacted the cliff of a mountain. As a result of this the John B Merrill Parkway ,in Towanda, was named after a brilliant man who worked at Syvania. Just prior to their departure an innocent flip of a coin sealed the fate of two couples on the flight. Three executives of the Sylvania Electric Company in Towanda, PA, and their wives were enroute to Salt Lake City. They were to board the plane in Chicago, however, there was room for only two couples so they flipped a coin to see which couple would have to stay behind for a later flight. Mr. & Mrs. Paul Felton lost the coin flipping and lived. The winners of the coin flip were Mr. & Mrs. John B. Merrill and Mr. & Mrs. James E. McGarr, and they died. in addition, the mother of a Michigan airman Private Lawrence Monk killed in the crash said that her son had a premonition of impending death. Mrs. Richard Ryan of Cheboygan said her 18-year-old son, Pvt. Lawrence Monk, gave her his Bible early Sunday morning and said, “I’ll never need it again.” Mom, you’ll never see me again but you’ll hear about me,” They went to church together Sunday and took communion . Monk, was in route to Oakland, Ca., and ultimately was together the 65 other doomed passengers in Denver, which is over a mile in elevation. What makes this all very interesting is that out of all the dead found, only the pilot and co-pilot had discolored skin. This may be explained if the flight crew was killed just prior to the crash . Had they been murdered just prior to the crash the death process would have been proceeding at over 10,000 feet and at “room temperature”. Every one alive at the time of impact would have been chilling down the moment after impact! In 1955 the authorities /media apparently accepted “Premonitions”. But today the FBI, FAA ,NTSB would have run a complete psycholoical assessment of Pvt. Monk. But at the very least Oct. 6th should be a time to think about the orphans, friends and relatives left to deal with this violent event. If the plane was hijacked you can only imagine the terror of the finals seconds of their lives. So the next time you drive down the John B Merrill maybe you might have a different feeling doing it.

Oh I am so jealous! We usually take or have taken like maybe 1-3 hour trails at National Parks. After seeing your trip, we need to step it up a bit!! We had 4 boys of various ages that it would have been tough to camp, etc, but now that they are grown except for my 14 year old, you have inspired me to do a long trail one day with him. We would have to gear up and do a lot of researching first! I have never heard of this trail which seems crazy. We have been to Colorado maybe 5 or 6 times and can't wait to go again. Hello from Iowa btw. Take care!! -Carol

It´s a nice video, but it´s a bad example about security. These guys probably don´t know that you need specific gear to protect yourself on a via ferrata. It´s very dangerous to use directly slings or daisy chains to clip on the wires, because in case of a fall you don´t have anything to absorb the energy, and you can really hurt yourself. It´s the same as climbing with static ropes... you need dynamic ones... For a via ferrata you need to use an absorber as the Petzl Scorpio Vertigo Landyard (or any other brand; there are several...)