Charlie Fowler

He was one of North America's most experienced mountain climbers, and successfully climbed many of the world's highest peaks.

He often guided expeditions for Mountain Madness, an adventure travel company owned by Christine Boskoff.

Along with his friend Damon Johnston, Fowler founded the publishing company Mountain World Media LLC in 2005.

From the time of their departure until November 8, 2006, Fowler and Boskoff were in frequent contact with friends and other mountain climbers via email.

Fowler and Boskoff were officially declared missing when they were not present on a scheduled return flight to the United States booked for December 4.

The two peaks Fowler referred to in his final email were unnamed, which initially complicated search and rescue efforts launched by local authorities in Litang.

Furthermore, locals in Litang and Buddhist monks living at a monastery near the base of Mount Genyen told investigators they had not seen any foreigners in the area for the previous month.

But, on December 25 (about three weeks after the pair was declared missing), authorities began to make progress in the search when they discovered a local man who said he had driven Fowler and Boskoff to a remote town not far from the Tibetan border.

On December 27, searchers found a body, mostly buried in snow, at the 5,300-meter level of Mount Genyen, though darkness prevented them from making an immediate identification.