Climbing Accident At the Pins - Any info?

[mynameismud]

Hope this is not true but I saw this thread.

Condolences to all.

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/2448592/Fatal-climbing-accident-at-pinnacles-today-7-15-2014

[JC w KC redux]

All they've said so far is a descent accident at Disco.

[cobbledik]

Discovery Wall while rapping or lowering (from the ST thread)

[Aaron McDonald]

I just read this on supertopo. Horrible.

[Aaron McDonald]

Actually it was Joe Kraut, a Dr. from Hollister.  I guess he took a 30 footer and hit is head. Not sure if he was wearing a helmet. My friend said he climbed at Pinns every week.

[mynameismud]

http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news/well-known-morgan-hill-doctor-dies-in-climbing-accident/article_eb31cc40-0d1a-11e4-8f7f-001a4bcf6878.html

[Aaron McDonald]

Wonder if it was a GriGri? Where is Liberty Wall? Can Gavin comment?

[Gavin]

Hey All -

I was part of the rescue team for the incident yesterday, so I'm definitely continuing to process the event right now. My condolences to those who knew and were friends with Joe Kraut.

Officially I can't go into any details about the incident right now, as park and law enforcement staff are trying to get clarity on the facts and the events from yesterday. Our superintendent Karen Beppler-Dorn is acting as the PIO (public information officer) for the incident and will be the official point of contact over the next days and weeks. When I receive word from Karen and from law enforcement staff, I will try to relay information here as well.

Thanks for your patience and support. Take care and be safe.

[Aaron McDonald]

Gavin,

Thanks for the update.  My condolences to family and friends as well. This is a horrible loss.  I know that this must also be hard on the rescue team as well. Thank you for your efforts.  It will be good to hear about what happened from a climber perspective.
 

[Brad Young]

Gavin,

"Processing" is the word; I can barely imagine how it must be. Call one of us to talk if you want to. I know all of you will also be talking through it there at the park too.

Your job has some great parts. Working a SAR incident must be one of those great parts when the outcome is good. Not so much when the outcome isn't good. I have every confidence that everything possible was done. Thanks for that.

I still remember Lar's incident. I was so totally encouraged by the incredible response by all the Park staff. My morale then took an immediate additional jump when the park service personnel at the West Side parking lot told me that you and Alacia were also responding.

[Atomizer]

This is awful. I hate to hear news like this.
Love goes out to those effected by this event.

[mynameismud]

Gavin, thank you for the update and take care.  Very sorry to hear.  Hope everyone has much better days to come.

[MUCCI]

Man, what a loss.  Hard to think of the heartache his passing will cause.

Thanks to SAR, good crew, unfortunate outcome.

[clink]

 I'm sorry for his family's and community's loss. He sounds like a quality guy and a regular Pinns climber. I hope more about his life story will be posted.

[waldo]

Gavin, please let me add to what Brad said.  You folks are good news when you arrive at any accident.  You bring hope and comforting order.  We appreciate your expertise and dedication, always.

[Brad Young]

 I'm sorry for his family's and community's loss. He sounds like a quality guy and a regular Pinns climber. I hope more about his life story will be posted.

I met him and enjoyed the encounter. Here's what I wrote on Supertopo about that meeting (most of you probably read it there already):

"Damn.

I hate news like this. Even though I didn't recognize his name, I still hate news like this.

And then I looked at his photo.

I met Joe (Doctor Kraut) once. And I've never forgotten him since.

I met him in January 2009 when I walked to the base of Machete Ridge at Pinnacles with my then 14 year old daughter and other friends. My daughter wanted to lead the 5.6 route there Corona. As we walked to the base we saw that other people were on the route. But they looked like they were almost done. As we reached the base, they pulled their rope and they were done.

The male of the two then turned around and smiled at us. After a short pause he looked at me and then he called me by name. I had no idea who he was, but I admitted that he had my name right. I asked him how he knew me.

He said: "You're the guidebook author!"

I said: "Yes. How did you know?"

Joe: "Your photo is in the book."

(I had to admit it - he had me there.)

He next thanked me very kindly for the effort I had put into the book.

Then Joe turned to my daughter (Katie). He said:

"Is that your dad?"

Katie reluctantly admitted that I was.

Joe said: "That must be so totally cool, having a dad like that. I bet it's great being able to go climbing with him."

Katie was a very (very) normal teenager. She reacted to Joe's comment as any teenager would: Her eyes rolled so deeply into the back of her head that we thought we'd have to rush her to the hospital.

Joe and his friend stayed with us for a while at the base of the climb. We talked climbing and they encouraged my daughter (she led the route clean). I've never forgotten his kindness and, especially, his incredible and obvious passion for climbing. His comments to Katie and her reaction to them have been a family story ever since.

I always wondered whether I'd run into him again."

[QITNL]

I haven't met a Pinnacles climber who wasn't a first-rate person. You guys are a good mob. Really sorry to hear when any of you meets with misfortune, large or small. Take care of yourselves and each other, stay strong.

[mynameismud]

+1 on what Waldo said. 

Brad: nice post.

[Uncle Stinky]

Been off line for a while and this is sad new to come back too, puts small injuries into perspective.  So sad for the family and friends.