Red Rocks - 04/30 - Helicopter Evacuation (Pine Creek Canyon: Challenger/Jet Stream Wall)
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We were descending on the Brass Wall yesterday, in Pine Creek Canyon, near Mescalito. Late in the afternoon, a helicopter circled around the valley; hovered over a large ramp half-way up a gigantic wall across the valley from us; and lowered a couple people out. Then the helicopter left and returned a little bit later; hovered again, and picked-up some people. The helicopter then went to the near-by parking lot where an ambulance w/ flashing lights was waiting. It was hard for me to tell what was going-on with the people so high-up on that big wall. Do you know what happened? I hope that everyone is OK. |
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Yesterday, May 1st, it looked like there was an accident at the Magic Bus also. As we were coming into the loop road we were passed by several emergency vehicles. As we drove past the Magic Bus we could see people waving down the EMT's from the cliff. Any info on this one? |
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...sounds more like The Challenger wall area to me. |
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It was Magic Bus... |
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ClimbingRose wrote:It was Magic Bus... She was on a my Petzel shunt ascender. Earlier I had tried the ascender as a rapel back up; I told the group I was with that it could also work as a self-belay. I asked the now injured person if she wanted to try it. She agreed. I set up the rope, and while a few feet off the ground, I selfdemonstrated the selfbelay aspect, and locking mechanism when using the ascender. She got set up, got on, and tried it herself a few feet off the ground. Feeling confident she did tested the lockingmechanism a couple more times. While she went up, I stayed just below her by the ropes. She went up and was delighted on the item's capabilities. Then, at 20' she decided to "test the device again." I heard someone say, "should you have done that a little lower?" She pressed the release button and she did not slide down, tryied a few more times, and before i could say anything, she slid down fast. I was still sitting down under her, and tried to open up my body to catch her. She landed on me I don't remember where or what part of her landed on me. I tried to say "let go of the release," but it happneded so fast I did not get a chance, and she finally let go just three feet off the ground. but she still rickashaded on the wall, then she hit the floor and cracked her head. WITHOUT A HELMET!!!!! Blood all over the place! Just awful! =(I don't know where to start. Are you Nigerian? Have you really just taken most of the responsibility for this person's accident? |
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ClimbingRose wrote: She pressed the release button and she did not slide down, tryied a few more times, and before i could say anything, she slid down fast.Doesn't pressing the release mean the device won't stop a fall anymore? Sorry your friend got hurt, self-belay systems are dangerous in the wrong hands. Hope she gets well soon. |
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ClimbingRose wrote:It was Magic Bus... She was on a my Petzel shunt ascender. Earlier I had tried the ascender as a rapel back up; I told the group I was with that it could also work as a self-belay. I asked the now injured person if she wanted to try it. She agreed. I set up the rope, and while a few feet off the ground, I selfdemonstrated the selfbelay aspect, and locking mechanism when using the ascender. She got set up, got on, and tried it herself a few feet off the ground. Feeling confident she did tested the lockingmechanism a couple more times. While she went up, I stayed just below her by the ropes. She went up and was delighted on the item's capabilities. Then, at 20' she decided to "test the device again." I heard someone say, "should you have done that a little lower?" She pressed the release button and she did not slide down, tryied a few more times, and before i could say anything, she slid down fast. I was still sitting down under her, and tried to open up my body to catch her. She landed on me I don't remember where or what part of her landed on me. I tried to say "let go of the release," but it happneded so fast I did not get a chance, and she finally let go just three feet off the ground. but she still rickashaded on the wall, then she hit the floor and cracked her head. WITHOUT A HELMET!!!!! Blood all over the place! Just awful! =(This is exactly why in the other thread I said you should not use a shunt to top rope solo. Top Rope soloing |
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@ Brian - Nigerian?!?! |
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ClimbingRose wrote:@ Brian - Nigerian?!?! Are you asking if I am black or of black decent? Why does that matter when a climber is injured?Pretty sure Brian's 'Nigerian' comment stemmed from the misspellings in ClimbingRose's post, e.g., spam e-mail that originates from Nigeria often contains misspelled words or unusual phrasing since the author is not likely a native English speaker. But Brian can respond as to his original intent. Cathy |
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Sounds like there were 2 rescues that day. Anyone know what happened in Pine Creek? |
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Sounds like there were 2 rescues that day. Anyone know what happened in Pine Creek? |
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Rose, |
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Darren in Vegas wrote: Doesn't pressing the release mean the device won't stop a fall anymore? ClimbingRose wrote:@ Darren- Just the opposite on the shunt... Pressing the release will release the hold and send you down. RoseI know Rose and I've been quiet for too long. The above exchange is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Rose not understanding what she is talking about and putting her foot in her mouth. The accident recently at Magic Bus was coming for some time either directly or indirectly from Rose's involvement. I've mentioned to several of our mutual climbing friends that she is dangerous and will get someone hurt or worse. I hoped it would never happen but now my fears have been realized. I can no longer sit silently by and watch her jeopardize others' safety. I was at Magic Bus today with a client. He noticed the blood first. I mentioned it seemed enough to have a story behind it and figured I would hear about it here on MP or other sites. Now that I know the story, there is more to the story. Rose is an Organizer for the Las Vegas Climbing, Bouldering and Canyoneering Meetup and in this capacity hosts climbing events. I caution everyone in Meetup to not attend her events as she is dangerous, uninformed, ill-informed, and completely capable of inadequately instructing attending climbers in everything from belay technique to self-belays using ascenders. If there is anything that comes from this unfortunate accident, it is that I can no longer sit quietly in the background praying nothing happens as a result of her ineptness. Hopefully no one else will be injured or worse as a result. Rose, do yourself and everyone you climb with a favor and obtain adequate professional instruction on all things climbing before you "mentor" another climber in ANY aspect of climbing. Doug you are right. Responsibility rests squarely on her shoulders. Dan Young |
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and the plot thickens.... |
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Dan, |
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Doug you are right and I stand corrected. I agree with you when you state: "I think when you offer someone instruction you do take on the responsiblity of knowing what you are talking about, and making sure the climber comprehends what you are teaching them." |
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hehehe... Oh Dan we haven't met yet but we work for the same people and in fact work together soon... the boss isn't gonna like this yogi... this shit is classic... |
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Dan... You say in your post "Rose is an Organizer for the Las Vegas Climbing, Bouldering and Canyoneering Meetup and in this capacity hosts climbing events. I caution everyone in Meetup to not attend her events as she is dangerous, uninformed, ill-informed, and completely capable of inadequately instructing" |
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ClimbingRose wrote:It was Magic Bus... She was on a my Petzel shunt ascender.There it is, it was your Petzel shunt ascender. If some kid wants to learn how to drive, you don't just hand him your car keys and let him hit the road. If someone wants to learn how to rappel with your ATC, you make damn sure to give him a firemans, check for proper set up, or simply say NO, and encourage them to get some professional instruction. Plus you're in the magic bus area! Why complicate things with ascenders and more variables. All you need up there is like 6 quickdraws . But anyway, I'm glad you softened her fall, and nobody died. Careful out there, please. |
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NO... I an not Nigerian, but I was raised in another country, and yes, I mispell words. |
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First and foremost I'd just like to point out the obvious. Climbing is a dangerous sport, it say's so on every piece of equipment that we purchase. Everyone using any type of climbing equipment should have working knowledge of that equipment. One of the best ways to gain knowledge and experience is through formal training, most classes teach extreme redundencies and back-ups. A fellow climber has been injured and I will leave it at that, I'm not looking to place blame or point fingers. We're fortunate that the extent of the injuries were not fatal or more serious, through this incident awareness should be elavated throughout the community. |