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Whitesides viewpoint pictures from cavers rappel

Original Post
Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

Does anyone have any pics from the top of the beginning of the cavers rappel looking out? I have a project in mind but need to make sure its feasible.

Thanks in advance.

Stephen Felker · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 552
photo by Joey Wolfe

You can actually see someone beginning the caver's rappel in this photo. It kind of drops away slowly to vertical and then starts to really overhang on the white rock above the obvious "jump pitch" roof on Vol Wall. The rappel is free hanging from there to about the middle of the white slab directly below. How is your broad jump? ;-)
BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620

Rope stealer and victim finally reunite over no less than....what are y'all talking about again?

Here is a picture looking straight up the cavers' line from the bottom.

Cavers....(eyeroll).

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

I have a 10-11ft broad jump. I'm white, I can't jump up but I can jump out.

This has apparently been jumped before a few years ago and the guy landed in someones driveway, but I don't know the exit point or how he didn't smear his ass all down the wall with no rope work.

We will be using a portaledge for a "solid" exit point with a 1.5-2 second delay before I pitch. I want enough airspeed to minimize a 180.

Any pictures looking out at possible landing zones? The Rabbit says there is some new development going on to ruin the scenery. I could "possibly" make it to the lake but its a big gamble. As much as I love trees I don't like to hug them to much.

Thank you s f for your beta. Rope stealer, haha. I remember that BS now. How was your time in the valley.

Stephen Felker · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 552

Yeah, one man's trash is another man's fixed line. Amicable resolution; nothing but love here (as well as respect for the lofty objective at issue). The Valley in '11? It is the last time I go early season. Walls went down, but the big one got away (that time)...

I'm not sure what kind of glide ratio you can achieve or how much room you need, but I can't picture anything that I would consider good for landing short of the lake. What about the hammock platform on the ridge to the north, below Raven? Super low percentage looking to my untrained eyes... Maybe wait until late fall for minimum canopy cover; just keep in mind the raptor closures, which often affect that line. Also, beware the local Whiteside Cove residents, or at least plan a quick getaway;-) Otherwise, good luck and GET SOME FOOTAGE!

BTW, the line in Rabbit's pic looks more like Warrior's Way, which is climber's left of Vol Wall. You can see the jump pitch roof high and to the right. More than one way to skin a cat, but when I was almost flattened by a huge rock trundled by cavers, andjoely and I were on Vol Wall.

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

:)

I can get a 3:1 and even better with proper wind direction.

The lake is ~ 5k ft as the crow flies. I have talked to a few jumpers and they said it is "plausable". There have been para gliders there before landing at the lake, but they have more of a glide ratio

I'm hoping that new development going in is fairly close. The Rabbit is scouting locations for me this weekend.

I would like to do it, but I'm not going to be stupid about it. Fall will be the time I would do it based on foliage cover.

Or hell, just go jump Wallys Roof in Tallulah, I know that works =] but thats a straight to jail card

WadeM · · Auburn, Ca · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 481

Just jump after the tetons... I need a partner and the Rabbit is hiding in his hole for that weekend....

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

I'm saving it till way after the tetons! Its going to happen after bridge day! I'll risk canopy damage after the travel season ends :) Tetons, t-minus one month and counting.

shannon stegg · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 0

Do not leave me out of the loop! I know how to rap in to the Whitesides Hotel. I bet you could shoot some interesting footage from that vantage point!

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

Shannon you are the loop!

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265

fella's since you all know each other...are you quite sure that this is the best place to be discussing these matters. I'd hate for the forest service to catch wind of this and put a damper on the party or access.

just a rumination if you will

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

If paragliders can launch off WS, why can't other parachutes?

shannon stegg · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 0

Hey, T quit being such a "Sheila", your thoughts are tipping the wrong people off!

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

Yes. Shannon I want to climb it the day before we jump. Have a full circle project ;)

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265
shannon stegg wrote:Hey, T quit being such a "Sheila", your thoughts are tipping the wrong people off!
interesting gaelic reference...and I wasn't even aware i had telepathic abilities that my thoughts could tip people...i need to explore this ESP skill set apparently.

i'm merely bringing up points that people should consider.

I think rhett should do it just that these things are best left unwritten so to speak, especially since rhett knows enough people that can give him beta on whitesides without asking on a public forum that may or may not be read by government officials that have influence over access.
Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

I think rock_fencer needs to do his research before he starts berating and spewing info he doesn't know anything about.

Peregrine closures usually stop any winged "aircraft" from flying. Fortunately the jump and time is from a place that the closures are not active.

Thanks, and do you honestly think a low paid gov't official (because 99% of them are) will be on mountain project trolling forums. I mean seriously. When I get off from working my job, the last thing I do is troll computer forums posing as a butt puppet behind a avatar.

To stop your jealousy and negative comments, you can start skydiving and work towards BASE if you choose too. No one likes a dick, and just because you can climb hard, think your privileged, in the right location, and have the time to do so doesn't mean that its alright for you to go spewing on a post about something you know nothing about.

One more thing, this has been jumped before. I'm just measuring twice and cutting once to make sure its even doable safely. There are a lot of people on board for this project, but there is always going to be a hater in every group.

Cheers

...

5.samadhi Süñyātá · · asheville · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 40

if u want an E why not just travel west? I base jump and this is the stupidest idea to me. No outs, vertical (or even slabby cliff at base), no possible plan B. How could WHITESIDES really be that important to you to risk serious injury/death jumping it for...2 seconds of freefall and a 5 minute canopy ride.

"More airspeed to deal with a 180" means...what? Airspeed does not decrease the probability of a 180..hence 180s occuring slider up terminal...what are you even basing that comment off of? You mitigate a 180 with a solid object by getting on your rear risers or toggles immediately (climbing up over twists if need be) and correcting heading by either turning or backing away near stall in reverse.

I hope you got your DBS custom DIALED!

be safe man!

BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620

Charlie don't surf!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWW1FeT1EyQ

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

I have my E. I have about 10 E's. This is just another rock, but it is a "local" rock. A faster opening speed with a vented canopy will minimize the chance of a 180 vs a go-n-throw and a lower speed. Body position has a lot to do with it and you know that. Whitesides is concave so that will help in a safety margin if the unforeseeable happens, which it can. That is the only reason we are even thinking about jumping it. Hell the last guy that jumped this thing ( which is a highly regarded BASE jumper and shall remain nameless) had a 180 into a cliff in Utah, its been 1.5 years now and he can just now function as a normal human. Everyone has a plan until they get punched. I mean its not like were throwing tweeners off shit-rock in Idaho. Now thats just silly.

Thanks.

Relax, its BASE jumping, its much worse than you think.

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265
Rhett Burroughs wrote:I think rock_fencer needs to do his research before he starts berating and spewing info he doesn't know anything about.
I'm not spewing anything, berating anyone, providing negative comments, or exhibiting signs of jealousy...just raising a concern, especially because, as you correctly state, i do not know what the rules and regulations are regarding BASE.

You brought this to a community forum, so while i support your endeavour, i'm providing my concern - not even my opinion - regarding perception by people who, though we may not like it, control the land our community utilizes.

As for having the time, being privileged, climbing hard, or in the right location. I'm a poor medical school in columbia SC. I have neither the time to climb, let alone climb hard, and have the privilege to devote most of my waking hours to learning the science of medicine.

video footage of whiteside rappel

Let Me Google That -- pictures from various albums
5.samadhi Süñyātá · · asheville · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 40
Rhett Burroughs wrote:I have my E. I have about 10 E's. This is just another rock, but it is a "local" rock. A faster opening speed with a vented canopy will minimize the chance of a 180 vs a go-n-throw and a lower speed. Body position has a lot to do with it and you know that. Whitesides is concave so that will help in a safety margin if the unforeseeable happens, which it can. That is the only reason we are even thinking about jumping it. Hell the last guy that jumped this thing ( which is a highly regarded BASE jumper and shall remain nameless) had a 180 into a cliff in Utah, its been 1.5 years now and he can just now function as a normal human. Everyone has a plan until they get punched. I mean its not like were throwing tweeners off shit-rock in Idaho. Now thats just silly. Thanks. Relax, its BASE jumping, its much worse than you think.
sounds like you are well aware of the risks then. As an adult you are entitled to pursue your dream. Especially since nobody is really going to be affected if you burn the site with a serious injury/rescue or a fatality.

Stay safe bro

  • edit - you know what I meant by nobody being affected (by that I meant other base jumpers in the area - obviously your friends/family would be harmed if you died.).
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
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