High Peaks Bliss

[F4?]

I thought Saturday was going to be a wash when I saw the lightening outside of Hollister.

But as Joe and I pulled into the upper parking lot it had stopped raining. Figuring we didn't want to upgrade any climbs (Wetkiss from 5.9 to 5.14) we opted for the slog up to the high peaks.

By the time we got up to the outhouse it was hot!

We ended up getting in 6 climbs and had the high peaks to ourselves. The only disruption besides 400 boyscouts was the CDF chopper doing practice landings by the resv. WTF??

If you weren't there, you missed out on a wonderful day.

Sorry, no pictures, weight was too much with the new guidebook.

[mudworm]

F4, you are funny. The post made me laugh.

I can't speak for others, but Mud admitted that the reason he hadn't replied was he could not come up with a funny or witty response. Weak.

[F4?]

Sorry for not giving out inspiration for witty responses.

I was tempted to call Pinnacles Beta Support from the top of Condor Crags, but....figured he'd be shivering on muchshitty.

How'd it go?

[Brett]

Regarding the helicopter...


On the afternoon of Saturday, October 18, 2008 a 15 year-old male fell approximately 20 feet while hiking in a rocky gully west of the Bear Gulch Reservoir in Pinnacles National Monument. Witnesses explained the young man was attempting to traverse a steep section at the top of the gully when he slipped, suffering multiple injuries. A National Park Service Ranger and rescue personnel, conducting training less than ½ mile away, responded to calls for help and arrived within several minutes. The patient was lowered approximately 150 feet to the trail using a technical rope operation then evacuated by helicopter.

Agencies assisting the National Park Service included Contra Costa County Search & Rescue, CalFire, California Shock Trauma Air Rescue, American Medical Response, and San Benito County.


Brett Hergert
U.S. Park Ranger

Pinnacles National Monument
5000 Highway 146
Paicines, CA 95043

Office: (831) 389-4486 x236 
Fax: (831) 389-4489

[mungeclimber]

thx Brett

seems to be a lot of these going around lately.  Hood, Tahquitz rock, etc.

[Jake M.]

And I thought the helicopter was just because SAR had caught wind that Factor was out climbing...

I hope the 15 year old makes a full recovery and takes up climbing with ropes like the rest of us.

[F4?]

Brett, thanks for the information. We had hoped it was just practice, but still thought it was odd that they landed. Sorry to hear it wasn't.

Is that the standard practice of accidents around the Reservoir?


Landshark, I have a kid now. I tap the holds 2x now

[Brett]

Much of what we do is standardized, including predesignated emergency landing zones throughout the Monument. Although, so many factors (including safety, location, resources, the patient's condition, etc...) go into the decision of how/where to evacuate that we rarely do it the same way twice.

If anyone has any other questions, feel free to email me at brett_hergert@nps.gov.

[F'ueco]

Brett, thanks for the information. We had hoped it was just practice, but still thought it was odd that they landed. Sorry to hear it wasn't.

Is that the standard practice of accidents around the Reservoir?


Landshark, I have a kid now. I tap the holds 2x now

 Wouldn't it be safer to just not touch that choss?