Missing Climber's Body Found In China

The family of top female mountain climber Christine Boskoff confirmed Monday that her body has been found on a remote peak in northern China.

The search for her body recently resumed after snowy conditions forced efforts to be suspended over the winter. The body of her climbing partner, photographer Charlie Fowler, was recovered from high on the mountain in December.

Boskoff's passport and camera were found by her body late last week, said her mother, Joyce Feld, of Appleton, Wis. Her body won't be brought down from the 14,000-foot peak for about a month, until 15 rescuers can climb the rocky terrain to bring it down, Feld said. But Boskoff's body was covered with stones on Monday to protect it until then, she said.

The family had lost hope that Boskoff would return home alive after she and Fowler failed to return home as planned on Dec. 4.

"It's been a long time but it is a relief to know that they at least found the body," Feld said.

A memorial service will be held when Boskoff's body is returned.

Boskoff ascended six of the world's 26,000-plus-foot peaks, including Mount Everest. She owned Mountain Madness, a Seattle adventure travel company formerly owned by Scott Fischer, one of the guides who died on Mount Everest in the 1996 season portrayed in Jon Krakauer's best-selling book, "Into Thin Air."

"This latest news brings closure to what was a great loss for her family, friends, Mountain Madness and the climbing community," said Mark Gunlogson, president of Mountain Madness. "Chris lived life to the fullest and she died doing what she loved best in one of her most favorite places to climb."

Fowler, who was from Colorado, was an expert on climbing in southwestern China. He guided climbers up Everest and climbed others of the world's tallest and most difficult peaks.

The two lived in Norwood, Colo.

Feld said her daughter died doing what she loved.

"Her dreams were doing something like this and she always did everything she wanted to," Feld said. "She crowded more things into her life than I did in my long life because she was always active."

A memorial fund in Boskoff's name has been set up by Room to Read, which will build a school in Nepal in Boskoff's honor.