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Quasimodo
Trad climber
CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 13, 2014 - 12:29am PT
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We were climbing a couple of routes on the south face of Tahquitz today. Both CHP and Sheriff choppers buzzed by us a half a dozen times between late morning and 5 pm. Around 6pm the sheriff chopper made two passes to drop two rescuers, one at a time, at the base of Lunch Rock. The free raps out of the quivering chopper was impressive. It appears Riverside Sheriff and Search and Rescue were training early in the day on the summit of San Jacinto when the distress call was made. As we walked down to the parking lot, seven more Sheriff and Search and Rescue we coming up the climbers trail. One member of the Search and Rescue told us the fatalty was on Who Done It and they were doing a "recovery".
The news (see link below) has it as a hiker death. It is tragedy for the family and friends of the victim. My condolences to loved ones of the victim. It was a somber walk down the trail for me and my partner after a fun and safe day of trad climbing. Reminds me that any great day could easily turn bad in a blink of an eye. Each day breathing is a gift.
http://blog.pe.com/breaking-news/2014/07/12/idyllwild-hiker-falls-dies-near-tahquitz-peak/
I was impressed by the effort of the rescue team. Except for the two very lucky boys that got to rap in from the chopper, the rest of the team labored up the climbers trail at the hottest time of the day, with a litter, heavy long pants, beefy black boots, Nomex long sleeve shirt and expedition weight backpack. Those boys were working hard. I bet they are working into the night tonight. I can't imagine carrying a litter down that steep and loose climbers trail. The Sheriff's staff get paid but I believe that most of the Search and Rescue guys we saw on the trail are volunteers. Cheers to the selfless volunteers for doing the grunt work!
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Jul 13, 2014 - 12:36am PT
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Grim. Heard the helos in the air today...oddly, the thought struck me that an incident had occurred.
Condolences to all involved.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Jul 13, 2014 - 12:50am PT
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Condolences to those involved. I know far too many people who frequent that place on weekends. Heard about the accident earlier this afternoon and have been waiting with baited breath... this is terrible.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Jul 13, 2014 - 07:33am PT
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What a piss-poor write-up by that lame ass Press Enterprise. I feel as if I know less now after reading that article than I knew before I read it.
I swear, every story that paper posts includes the sentence "No other details were available".
We know that isn't true. Quasimodo, by accident, did a better job of reporting what happened than the newspaper, even though he's not even a professional journalist.
"No other details were available."
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tamberly
Trad climber
san diego
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Jul 13, 2014 - 08:18am PT
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We were at the 2nd belay ledge on The Error and were approx. 50 feet below the climbers when the accident occurred. We watched the leader ride a large block before he flipped. This block (roughly 5 FEET long, 6-7 inches thick, 3-4 FEET wide, proceeded to bounce and break into many huge rocks directly overhead missing us only by inches. It is possible the leader climbed on or near a known loose block next to a bolt (the bolt was placed so climbers would not use this block) just above the dogleg pitch on Sahara Terror. We were able to contact two other climbers on Who dun it who were able to climb above and establish a safe rap and rapped down to the fallen climber.
The climbers were on Sahara Terror and the leader was climbing approx 30-40 feet above the belay on the pitch above the dogleg.
We remained at our belay for several hours and assisted ground crew in communication with the two climbers assisting. We eventually rapped off the route at the request of rescue workers.
Be prepared for more loose rock on Sahara Terror, and possibly a new blank section.
Condolences.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Jul 13, 2014 - 08:22am PT
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Sahara Terror takes another one of us. That area is one to be careful on for sure.
One of these big man-killers hanging by an old tree root over on East Lark too.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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Jul 13, 2014 - 10:14am PT
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In the 1980s my partner and I topped out on Fingertrip and noticed groups of climbers near the summit area , and plenty of shouting. We knew something was up.
We soon learned there had been a fatality on Sahara Terror.
The leader had dislodged a good sized block which plummeted to their belay below ---striking his girlfriend and thereby amputating her arm. Apparently she bled to death long before anyone reached her.
My partner and I drove back to LA , literally speechless the entire drive.
Condolences, to all involved , both then and now.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 13, 2014 - 10:19am PT
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The last time (early 90's) I took a n00b up Sahara Terror I was amazed at all the loose stuff
still up there which I constantly pointed out, when possible, to my brother.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Jul 13, 2014 - 10:44am PT
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We originally intended to do Sahara Terror last weekend. It was occupied so we did The Error instead.
It seems like I have ended up on ST about every other year for the last 25 or so. Every time that block has been a little looser.
Condolences to the survivors and rescuers.
Edit,
After rereading the eyewitness account it sounds like this happened right after the dogleg.
That pitch has always been notoriously loose and seems to change a bit every year.
The bolt, and that loose block are a pitch up and past the crux.
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Jul 13, 2014 - 11:29am PT
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Sorry for the loss!
very fun route, but with too many loose blocks!
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skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
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Jul 13, 2014 - 01:17pm PT
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Awwwww....this sucks bad! My sincerest condolences. Funny thing is I was real close to going to Tahquitz on Saturday specifically to do that route...but life got in the way. The last MP comment post does look rather ominous.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jul 13, 2014 - 02:17pm PT
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hey there say, tam... i had wondered if this was the same place you were at... i had seen your facebook post (and how scary this was)... :(
a very hard thing go through... :(
edit:
just learned of the lost climber's name...
my sincere condolences, to the family, and his loved ones...
prayers for you, as you move on, without him... :(
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overwatch
climber
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Jul 13, 2014 - 02:38pm PT
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Sorry for the fallen and those left behind.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jul 13, 2014 - 02:47pm PT
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Really sorry to hear this. Condolences to the family and friends of this person.
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Jul 13, 2014 - 03:30pm PT
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I'm so sorry to hear about this. Condolences to family and friends.
Sahara Terror was one of the first climbs I did at Tahquitz when I was a noob in 1974. We thought it was pretty tough. "If that is 5.6 imagine what 5.7 is like!" We had a small rack of Troll(?) hexes and Forest stoppers. It took all day. Might of even been on my dads Goldline.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jul 13, 2014 - 03:39pm PT
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Very Sorry and condolonces...First time up Sahara Terror in 74 wearing Robbins boots...Ugg..! Next year , armed with EB's , my friend carelessly knocks a small block off nailing my brand new rope and damaging it..I remember tip toeing on the loose block that eventually killed the poor lady..
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Jul 13, 2014 - 04:21pm PT
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Maybe Tamberly can confirm this, but I suspect the lower circled flake may have been the one triggered.
Its always scared me a bit passing it.
The upper circle is about the location of the other block with the bolt next to it.
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Skywonger32
Trad climber
Long Beach, Ca
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Jul 13, 2014 - 04:32pm PT
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Super sad day in the mountains yesterday. Thanks to all of those who volunteer to complete these rescue and unfortunately sometimes recovery missions. A member of RMRU said he may post the mission report.
Condolences to family and friends of the fallen climber and his partner.
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
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Jul 13, 2014 - 06:06pm PT
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Every day is a gift,
My sincere condolences.
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tamberly
Trad climber
san diego
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Jul 13, 2014 - 06:47pm PT
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TGT is exactly correct. The block came from the lower circle in his photo, as witnessed by Tamberly's husband (who is writing this). It hit a slab that ejected the block (and pieces) over to the climbers on The Error. I have no idea if the climber caused the block to fall, or if it happened after he passed it. I do not have any other information to add as I only had about a half second to see what was going on before trying to get out of the way of the falling blocks. My condolences, it was a sad day.
Now that that block is gone, be extremely careful as you do not know what is left hanging in the balance.
HI WENDELL
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