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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 6, 2011 - 03:07pm PT
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Supertopo contributer, Lars Johansen, was injured at the Pinnacles yesterday in a rock fall incident. He is in ICU in San Jose. He is quite broken up. Send him good vibes.
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labrat
Trad climber
Nevada City, CA
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Get well soon Lars. Thinking healing thoughts.
Erik
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A5scott
Trad climber
Chicago
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prayers, mojo and good vibes sent
scott
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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so sorry to hear this!
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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So sorry to hear about this. Good luck to Lars.
Even though I don't know him, when he's ready to receive visitors I'd be glad to go see him.
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Nate D
climber
San Francisco
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Whoa, very sorry to hear. Best to you Lars!
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scuffy b
climber
dissected alluvial deposits, late Pleistocene
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Best Wishes, Lars. Heal well.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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positive thoughts going your way Lars.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Bummer...best wishes.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Rockfall sux. Heal up.
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Positive vibes man, heal up!
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Heal up Lars, here's some vibes....
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Best wishes...heal soon.
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Ouch, I just met and talked with him at the base of Lava Falls on Sunday afternoon.
He's a longtime Pinnacles veteran; probably was being careful but sometimes things go wrong that overcome normally good plans.
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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It's important to note that this was not a climbing accident. It happened on the approach to the climb (class two or three). We still had our packs on. A huge boulder rolled on top of him.
Also, Lars is stable, but (obviously) still in the hospital. He had more broken bones than I can list.
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Brian in SLC
Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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Here's to a speedy recovery!
Quote from Toula's Rock-n-Road, from a non-local:
"You know what your poop looks like after eating corn-on-the-cob and a Payday bar? It looks like Pinnacles National Monument."
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Gagner
climber
Boulder
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Whooa - bummer, that sucks.
All the best for a speedy and uneventful recovery.
Paul
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 6, 2011 - 07:43pm PT
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From Mud and Crud web site:
As we were moving uphill, Josh was in the lead, then Lars and then me. We were in a bit of a slot between a slab and a short cliff. The three foot diameter boulder came loose with no warning. Josh and I agree that Lars then literally threw Josh out of the way (it appears that Josh has a minor wrist fracture in spite of Lars’ effort). I dove off to the left. Lars had nowhere to go. The boulder came to a stop on top of his legs. Nothing Josh and I tried would budge the boulder; it must have weighed hundreds of pounds. As I was running for help, Josh dug under the boulder to free Lars. It took 45 minutes of digging with his bare hands (and a broken wrist). Josh is EMT trained and between him and NPS ranger Mark they absolutely saved his life.
Brad Young
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
WA, & NC & Idaho
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Best wishes for a speedy recovery Lars!
You'll pull through!!!
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Quick recuperation high energy healing vibes on the way. A similar accident happened to Larry Lackey back in the mid 50s on descent from the Higher Spire.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Happy Healing Lars, if happy is an appropriate word.
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Dos XX
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Heal fast so you can get back out there.
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Positive thoughts for Lars.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, mtmun... i saw this at the facebook, thanks for sharing there...
will pray...
can we all send him cards, anywhere, for him, as he recovers?
he is a fine hero, from what i just read... a good man is down, and we must lift up his pain from him, now...
cheers and blessing to those that helped him, so diligent they were!!
get well lars... soon as you can... :)
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Captain...or Skully
climber
Where are you bound?
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Holy Crap! Bummed to hear about this, but glad yer not dead. Hope you heal well & thoroughly, Lars.
MudnCrud, eh?
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johnboy
Trad climber
Can't get here from there
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Hope your healing goes smoothly and you come back stronger.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Oh man. Heal up Lars! Best wishes.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Heal up, Bra!!!
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rhyang
climber
SJC
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Hope you are back where you belong very soon Lars !
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Kind of a nightmare scenario, where your friend is badly injured when you touch something and it cuts loose unexpectedly. It has happened to me and at least 2 of my friends, and it is very uncomfortable to experience.
It's a very good thing that Josh was able to dig out Lars to take the pressure off - otherwise he could have died right there in front of him. So it could definitely have been way worse.
It happened to friends at Temple Crag a few years back - the leader dislodged a large block which pinned her belayer against the ground. They had to rig a mechanical advantage hauling system to lift the block off the victim. Pretty hard to do, because people don't normally bring pulleys on a free climb. And they also needed a knife, because much of the rope for the pulley system was also trapped against the ground by the block. They found some other people who had a knife and managed to rig the system. They always carry a knife with them now, and so do I.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Good point. We should be sending positive energy to Josh as well.
It's often as bad or worse to watch someone suffer as be the person undergoing the pain.
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kev
climber
A pile of dirt.
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I spoke with josh last night and it sounds like everyone
that this could have been much worse.
Lars heal up! I'll throw some rocks at josh for ya.
kev
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Tork
climber
Yosemite
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Positive thoughts to both.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 7, 2011 - 01:40pm PT
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A huge thank you to Josh and Brad for their amazing performance in the rescue effort. Heroes, both of them, and to all the rescue crue who assisted. Lars is a dear friend and I am very grateful.
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climbrunride
Sport climber
Golf Wall, CO
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I'm so glad to see all the positive comments here. Lars is one of my best friends, and the phone call yesterday morning shook me up pretty badly. I'm so relieved now, knowing that he will be OK.
I've got to echo what Mtnmun said, Josh and Brad did a fantastic job to get Lars out of there quickly and safely. Way to go guys!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lars is going to have a tough and painful road to recovery in front of him, so please keep him in your thoughts in the coming weeks and months.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Good luck and mend well!!
Hey I've camped in that same exact spot as the 2nd pic, that's Voyager Rock, yes?
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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GOD DAMN WILEY MOUNTAINS.
cheers lars to recovery.
is this our mucci that dug him out?
mucci busted his wrist?
war on the boulders man.
this means war
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 7, 2011 - 04:27pm PT
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Over Thanksgiving in Saline Valley.
One of my favorites.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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bump for mountains wrestling men action.
jeez you guys.
my hats off to you
for steadfast resolve during your asse kicken.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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i just spoke with mucci
and lars had surgery on his leg today.
it sounds like the healing has commenced.
lars has spent some time on hardship's rug, he'll surmount.
go lars.
go mucci.
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em kn0t
Trad climber
isle of wyde
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This hits close to home; it could happen to any of us.
Best wishes to Lars and Josh for complete and speedy recovery.
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Nate D
climber
San Francisco
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Thinking of Lars.
And best to Josh & Brad!
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climbrunride
Sport climber
Golf Wall, CO
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@ Ksolem: Yes, Voyager Rock. One of his favorite campsites. I understand you know that rock quite well.
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hossjulia
Social climber
Eastside (of the Tetons)
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What a drag, always been one of my nightmares, to have that happen.
Good thoughts for a full recovery.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Hang in there, Lars and heal up quickly!
Am thinking of you. Scary thing that happened. I dread this.
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pc
climber
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Positive vibes your way Lars.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, where can we send him cards??
will stop by later and see...
go to run now...
god bless to lars and all...
and to the one with broken wrists, as well...
:)
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Max J
climber
SANTA CRUZ
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Hi I am Lars son Max. Thank you all for your kind posts. My dad is a strong man and I am very optimistic about his recovery. HIs wife and family are all there for him (especially his wife) and we hope the best. He will prevail. Please keep up with the posts Im sure he will read them in the future, Those who know him, thank you for your support. Me, his wife and his family thank you all again, please keep up the support.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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oh wonderful, christmas on crutches,
dang you boulder, dang you!
heal up soon, your life depends upon it,
did you write any new songs while under the rock?
were the vultures starting to circle?
pinnacles is a weird place,
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Get better quick, Lars!!!!
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guyman
Trad climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Lars, sending you energy for speedy recovery.
This summer will be a good time to go have a BBQ at Courtwight. You already know the spot. It would be nice to meet you and climb some.
Guy Keesee
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Lars
Josh
Brad
thinking of all three of you.
How's Lars doing? Any updates?
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susu
Trad climber
East Bay, CA
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Warm thoughts and prayers coming your way, Lars, and to Josh and Brad. Wonderful photos of you, Lars, and your paintings!
Sue and John
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Murzerker
Social climber
Land of Goats and Tacos
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Classic pics, looks like a great guy. I don't know you Lars, but get well bud, the world needs men like you.
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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It's hard to respond to requests about how Lars is doing. Of course everyone is concerned (what remarkable community of climbers we are all part of). But, I'm concerned also about Lars' and his family's privacy.
Here's an effort to balance the two. What I'm posting is based on what Josh has told me and on my own impressions:
 Lars: It's not easy to say, but Lars was very seriously hurt. As of last night, he was still in ICU (although there had been some talk about moving him to a normal hospital bed, that didn't happen). I am told that the surgury to insert rods and pins into his leg is the last surgery he needs. I hope so. I know that many people have been spending time with him, from his wife and family to long long time climbing friends like Steve B. I am told that there are times when Lars isn't very coherent and that this seems to be due to the pain medications. And there are other times when he and his friends are sharing irreverant humor, which I consider to be an excellent sign. I think other people who post here are planning on seeing him today or tomorrow and they may be able to give better updates. Keep praying.
Josh: I think Josh will be OK. He won't really talk about his wrist injury, which will heal. As to his state of mind he and I have talked and talked about how the boulder moved. He barely touched it. He did nothing wrong and nothing any different from what every other person who has ever hiked cross-country has done. And yet he knows, and I do too, that he will always wonder whether and why he didn't do something just a little different. That's human nature. It's a subject I've been able to talk with him about from experience; in 1992, I dislodged a flake on the Leaning Tower that hit and badly injured my partner. I've talked to Josh about that incident (and about PTSD) with the perspective of 19 years, and with the insights that come from having asked the same questions of myself that I know Josh will ask of himself for years. I've told Josh, too, that he better damn well shake his own hand. The event that happened was a total fluke. What wasn't a fluke, and what isn't open to question, is that Josh's quick thinking, his effort to dig Lars out with his bare hands, and his EMT training saved Lars' life. When the helicopter short haul took place, there were 15 minutes left until it would have been too dark to fly. If Lars had still been under that boulder (which two of us couldn't budge) when the SAR team arrived, if Josh hadn't taken steps to guard against shock... well the picture is obvious. Still, Josh needs our help and prayers, too.
Brad: The flashbacks continue, but I slept last night without using Ambien.
I hope nothing I've posted has gone too far into anyone's personal life. If it has, I'll hear about it and I will then edit this post.
I'll bet many members of the Supertopo commununity are going out this weekend. Have fun, but take a minute, too, to insert just a little extra caution into your adventures.
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WanderlustMD
Trad climber
New England
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Thanks for the update. All the best to Lars. We are pulling for you!!
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Leggs
Sport climber
Downtown, Tucson
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Bump for a good cause!!
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scuffy b
climber
dissected alluvial deposits, late Pleistocene
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Thanks, Brad.
As far as concerns Josh, he's got a hard row to hoe.
Some of his analysis, debriefing, whatever, will be more productive a few
weeks or so down the line, than trying to get it all done right now.
It sounds like he and Lars both saved each other (Lars throwing Josh out of
the way), and we can all be grateful they're both still with us.
Yes, anybody would think nothing of just touching a boulder in passing.
What you say about your old mishap resonates with me.
I still occasionally wonder, what if I had simply not lost my balance, on a
mishap of 35 years ago.
Best wishes to you all
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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Reminds me of a friend of mine who was hiking up the Ledge Trial in Yosemite when a table-sized boulder cut loose and folder her over backwards like a soft taco.
Circumstances were perfect for a quick rescue, and although she had a badly broken back, she recovered beautifully.
I wish the same to Lars--a swift and full recovery.
These aren't called freak accidents for nothing, so I hope Josh can quickly find comfort in that it's what he did to help the situation. Those are intentions, and that is character. There wasn't intention to trundle, so please, peace of mind.
Brad, thanks for the ongoing support, and bringing the community's good vibes into the fold.
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yosemite 5.9
climber
santa cruz
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I am relieved that he will keep his leg. I was very impressed with the Santa Clara Medical Center personnel when my wife was there for four months in 2004. I wish him a rapid recovery. If he goes into the rehab dept. his insurance company may not want him there very long on the theory that his condition is no longer "acute". If this happens, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz can take him in their rehab unit at a sub-acute level. At least they did this for my wife. They are also very good at rehab. Send me an email if I can help.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Dec 10, 2011 - 02:38am PT
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hey there all, will give this some more heavy duty prayer tonight...
still praying, regular, anyway...
for all concerned...
god bless..
thanks for the updates...
happy things are moving along, but hard to be happy when someones emotions are still hurt, too... :(
but, happy for LIFE...
:)
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Dec 10, 2011 - 11:00am PT
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Thanks for the update on all of you. Positive vibes continue in your direction.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 10, 2011 - 05:39pm PT
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Evo Jack and I visited Lars yesterday afternoon. He was joking and trading barbs with us which was a good sign. He is in and out of reality and was still a bit in a daze as to how it all went wrong so fast. We were encouraged when we left. As Brad was quoted as saying, He is one tough SOB.
He has a long way to go. He is being transfered to Kaiser in San Rafael today. Tomorrow he has shoulder surgery to repair his broken shoulder. The MRI revealed several minor strokes due to lack of blood flow.
When he was younger, he was working on a new route in a very remote part of Canada when a boulder took him out in an approach gully. That was an epic event as well.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Dec 10, 2011 - 09:50pm PT
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hey there say, mtnmun... i am sending you a get well card for him, and a christmas card, if i can fit it INTO yours, i will...
if not, i will send it seperate...
thanks for the update...
i wish and hope and pray that so many folks can have success stories from these things...
am so very thankful to see some success in action here on the
supertopo! ...
god bless to you all...
*miss haning out here at night, but i got so much to do...
three cheers to all the trip reports, too...
:)
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Dec 10, 2011 - 09:55pm PT
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Brad, Mtnmun
Thanks so much for the updates.
Brad, your message about Lars, Josh and yourself was very thoughtful and I don't think invasive. We're all pulling for the three of you.
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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Dec 10, 2011 - 10:01pm PT
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cheers to all you folks--lars to get better and josh for some real heroism.
i like lars's artwork--an interesting career of exploration. here's to healing and getting back to it.
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Dec 12, 2011 - 03:32am PT
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Wow. I just looked at this thread for the first time in nearly a week. The tears I had been holding back just let loose. Brad has generously been taking reports and offering his take away from our daily conversations throughout the week. I would have had a hard time trying to type last week so now I offer a summary of the events on that monday afternoon.
Brad, Lars and Myself were traversing into a narrow slot that lead to the base of a large flake that marked the start of a project of Lars from the late 80's. I entered the slot first followed by Lars, then Brad. This was a standard, off trail 2nd class approach. Loose scree and the standard bushwhacking was involved. I came to a very large headwall boulder, I stood up on a few holds at the base of the wall and reached out right to steady myself against the wall. I then grabbed the right edge of the headwall boulder with my left hand in an effort to step up onto a shelf.
The boulder cut loose. Falling backward, I was under the right portion of the rushing boulder, my left arm was caught between lars and the boulder. He Pushed my arm or shoulder with his right arm, exposing his entire right side to the boulder.
All I saw after that was a huge boulder rolling down the chute, Brad diving to the left into a tree at the base of a slab and a cloud of dust.
I looked at brads eyes and where they were focused, which lead me to believe that Lars was not fully entrapped. I moved down the hill and saw that he was pinned to the thigh of his right leg, and the left was trapped by its clothing under the boulder. Our first worry was the stability of the boulder, which we tied off to a shrub with Brad's rope. It was not confidence inspiring but the best we could do.
I immediately put my shoulder against the boulder, counted off to Brad and and moved it enough for Brad to get the left leg free. I think we moved it a total of 2 inches before we gave up after many tries. Lars leg was buried, knee to the ground, up to the thigh.
Lars was in a desperate position, head downhill, face down in the yolk of a tree. He had regained conciousness and was telling us that he had broke his shoulder, and to get his leg free. Brad looked at me and gave me that "Dude, I don't want to leave but Now is the time to go" look. Grabbed his pack, tossed me a water and took off down the trail, I yelled at him " Get a Helo Man!".
I used our bags to support his frame then I Started digging like a terrier. His trekking poles had stayed next to his leg and created a void under the boulder which I started enlarging.
I was shoulder deep pulling out pebbles. Eventually I had used the pole and broken out the back side of the boulder. I ran around and went to work there, found his shoe and had a moment of clarity override my desperation to rush the extraction. I removed his shoe carefully, and positioned his foot so that I could slide the leg out without any snags. As I moved around to lars, he was already moving his upper body, and his leg was out 6 inches. I made the decision to support his spine and head with my left arm, and use my right to pull the his legs around and get him into a sitting/reclining position. Painfully, he shouted which was the last time I heard lars speak until the CHP chopper showed up when he said "Get me outta here".
His BP was rising and shock was setting in. I could not move him into a position for shock treatment so I did the best I could with our jackets and the hat I had. I splinted his right compound fracture with the rope and my hammer leash. This allowed me to adjust the height when he moved.
I monitored his vitals, palpated him head to toe, revealing his broken ribs, shoulder and legs. Brad had managed to direct 3 or 4 teams of rescue personel to our location, which was way off the grid, and hopelessly loose. I began to think about how we were going to manage a litter in our tight notch. I started to trundle all of the boulders near us I could down the chute. Breaking branches off and smashing the sharp points near the trunks. I was trying to prep the area not knowing how large the effort was below me on the approach.
Mark, Head Ranger and EMT, and Tim were the first responders, The Litter was 30 min behind them, the CALTECH chopper was already deployed. A Flight nurse and Paramedic were dropped in the summit saddle, and had traversed to our position. I supported lars while they tried to run a line on him, which was not possible. Lars was Critical and It was made know to CHP we needed to short haul. A trail was cut to allow the 20 personel from all local agencies who were present to lower the litter to a hillside for extraction. Chp performed the short haul and lars was off into the sunset.
The portion of time when rescue personel started showing up is clear as day. But trying to write more than i did above is impossible. The gaps between radio communication, trail orders, vitals, rigging, rotorwash, etc were filled with blank stares. At lars, at the boulder, at the faces of the people present. My time with lars, in the beginning, is what replays over and over, then we are all looking up at him and the Helo.
I don't know the timing of everything, It did seem very fast from start to finish. So much so that I found myself walking back to the parking lot at dusk, just like every other time I had climbed on the west side. The parking lot was empty as usual and I could not take it anymore. I fell down and start crying. Brad was there with a rescuer. They got me back on track and I shook it off, knowing the uncertainty of rescue was abolished, now focusing on Lars survival while transport took him to the Trauma center.
Lars is one tough cookie. This past september, 5 months after cancer surgery, he joined his longtime friend Steve and me on a New big wall route in Yosemite. We spent 7 days up there and it was our greatest adventure together. It was hard for him, I could see it in his eyes throughout the climb. Yet he never complained, never sniveled, never let a negative emotion or word escape him. We were all pushing it to the max. At 62 years of age, he is still gettin it done! That was to be his coup de gras, the big finish to a great climbing career that took him all over the world.
Our trip that weekend was a chance for lars to hand over his old projects to me. He knows how much I care about the history of adventure at pinnacles and that I have the highest respect for his boldness on pinnacles First ascents, in areas that are as wild as the day he first found them. For that he entrusted Brad and I with areas that only he has ever ventured.
Lars is alive, and due to every single person involved in his rescue. We needed everyone that day. I don't remember names, just the faces of so many who were there. I see that line of people, with outreached arms waiting for the litter every night. They are like you and me. Good people who did everything they could to save a life.
It all boiled down to 15 minutes, Darkness would have negated a short haul had anything delayed us 15 min. All efforts, on all fronts meant nothing in the wake of time. Time is your enemy during a critical rescue. That day time slowed down just enough to let the bird pluck my friend from harm.
I would like to personally thank, Brad for his amazing effort and olympic speed in getting a swift turnaround for the teams on the approach. His direction and orientation were key to lars survival.
I wish I knew all of the crew, a few are familiar faces, a few are friends, but most were strangers helping some strangers. I give thanks for them every night.
My friend lars is going to heal, he is the most resilient person I know.
Josh Mucci
I know I have missed some things, but the rest will come out with time.
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Dec 12, 2011 - 03:41am PT
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Here is to a speedy recovery lars!
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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Dec 12, 2011 - 09:12am PT
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wonderful, mucci--thanks so much for the account. lars couldn't have been in better hands. all the best for his recovery.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Dec 12, 2011 - 09:21am PT
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Thank you Mucci. Really, thank you.
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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Dec 12, 2011 - 09:43am PT
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Thanks Josh. You know, someday we'll have to go in and finish that project out of respect for Lars. But maybe we should consider NOT asking him to come to the base?
We can name the route Moving Day, or Short Haul, or maybe call it Mister Johnson. And we can make it a really, really safe lead.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Dec 12, 2011 - 09:45am PT
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hey there, say, mucci...
oh my... you all were in sync far beyond anyone's dreams...
you know, it was like you were running on the inner-spirit man, for sure,
as to this part of your quote:
I don't know the timing of everything, It did seem very fast from start to finish
that inner spirit, carried you through what the outter man, can barely comprehend fully...
god bless to you all, as you all heal through this...
*am sending something to mtnmun for you both...
praying as you all recover...
sit and take a few 'breathers' out in the fresh air, there as the sunrises... the more new days you all conquer through this, the roots of being well will set in... new joy will be there then, later, when the shocks fall off...
thanks for helping us all understand what you all went through...
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 12, 2011 - 11:27am PT
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Thanks again Josh and Brad for all of your efforts and the detailed report. You guys made the difference. Jude
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BMcC
Trad climber
Livermore
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Dec 12, 2011 - 12:31pm PT
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Hoping your recovery goes smoothly, Lars.
Mucci and Brad - great that Lars had such solid partners who acted so quickly to do so much to help him! Wow.
Best wishes for all three of you.
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Dec 18, 2011 - 11:35pm PT
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Saw Lars today, he was doing great! Got a chance to talk and laugh. The road to recovery is Long, but he is has a strong will and the determination to get back to 100%
Thanks to all of the kind wishes, I have not told him about this thread yet, but when he is ready I will let the floodgates of support here open wide.
Best,
Josh
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Captain...or Skully
climber
Asgard or bust
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Dec 18, 2011 - 11:39pm PT
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Thanks for the update, Mucci.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Dec 20, 2011 - 07:06pm PT
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mucci im buying you
dinner and a bottomless
pint glass in josh.
im good for it.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 27, 2011 - 01:25pm PT
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Evo Jack, who has abroken collar bone from a Mt. Bike Crash, and our man Lars, feeling their pain together on Christmas Eve.
Lars is home and doing a one handed layback move from the wheel chair to the john.
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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Dec 27, 2011 - 01:38pm PT
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Welcome back to the land of the living Lars! Speedy recovery and hope it's pain free and easy soon if it's not already there.
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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Dec 27, 2011 - 03:28pm PT
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great to see those smiles--cheers to all.
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Jan 19, 2012 - 04:19am PT
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good news bump!
Got to hang with the legend himself last week. Great spirits and anxious to get into rehab. Sense of humor is back in full effect.
Surreal to see Lars, all sporty and wearing the guido suit.
Badass indeed.
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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Jan 19, 2012 - 10:21am PT
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bump for lars.
i want to know one thing: where does he buy his knickers?
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Jan 19, 2012 - 12:53pm PT
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a man made of durable fabric,
to this day my emotional fortitude has
not been thoroughly tested.
i hope to meet the challenge then, as lars has now.
when the excrement hits the fan,
notice the new art on the walls.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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how is lars getting along
in this flat world?
i offer my encouragement and respect.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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May 25, 2012 - 06:59pm PT
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hey there say, ... a bump for lars....
you are not forgotten...
hope some friends get to drop by and see you...
god bless....
keep on keeping onward to victory...
even hard trails lead to worthy meadows...
:)
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lars johansen
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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May 25, 2012 - 07:06pm PT
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Many thanks for all your blessings. Surgery [again] last week, to remove some hardware that was in the way. I enjoy reading all the tr's. Keep 'em coming.
Best to All
lars
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
WA, & NC & Idaho
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Dec 30, 2012 - 04:23pm PT
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Bump for the real deal!!!!!
Here's to Lars and his comeback!!!
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Bad Climber
climber
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Dec 30, 2012 - 04:52pm PT
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Yo, Lars: I just caught the story of your whole ordeal after you posted yer come back TR. Wow, glad you're still among the living and now mobile. Watch out for that Pinnacles crab. Spooky!
BAd
aka Scott who you did Shasta with BITD.
BTW, I'm STILL pissed at how much hot sauce you put on the dinner you cooked for us! It was burnin' hell choking that down! :)
Heal up and keep on keepin' on....
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wayne w
Trad climber
the nw
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Dec 30, 2012 - 06:25pm PT
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Sending Lars lots of good thoughts, and healing energy, in the New Year!
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10b4me
Boulder climber
Somewhere on 395
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Dec 30, 2012 - 06:56pm PT
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Lars, hoping the new year brings good things for you.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 30, 2012 - 07:16pm PT
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So happy you are alive and kickin my friend.
Lars is one tough donkey. Earlier in his climbing career he was crushed in a debris shoot by rock fall. This happened while attempting a new route in a remote Canadian Valley. While his friend went for help he could hear the grizzley bears circling the fresh blood. The following day they were able to get him to a doc. This doc could not fix him so he flew back to SF hiding his injuries from the airline staff who would have not let him fly had they known how broken he was.
As a paramedic firefighter he narrowly escaped death when his fire truck burst into flames while he was driving to an accident scene.
Then this crazy misfortune and a year later he is back in business. You just can't keep a good man down.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 26, 2015 - 11:11pm PT
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Lars went for a hike yesterday morning at 9 a.m. and solo. search and rescue currently underway as he has not returned. hiking Cassidy to Miller crossing trail near Squaw dome.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 01:11am PT
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hey there say, ... oh no... i can hardly believe this... oh my...
prayers... yes, for sure... oh my... thank you jude... :O
dear god... amen...
here, for you lars...
yes, we are...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 03:17am PT
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hey there, say, ... just a bump...
been praying...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 04:57am PT
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hey there say, jude and all...
got to go sleep now... will pray some more, when i get up...
and a bit now, as i go to sleep...
hope you are doing okay wherever you are lars...
hope you get home, safe, too...
in your corner, amen...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 05:50am PT
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hey there say, ... bump, as i go to sleep...
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Bad Climber
climber
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Jun 27, 2015 - 05:58am PT
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Uh oh. Lars, did you hook up with some back country cheer leaders? You gotta call in, man!
BAd
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rincon
climber
Coarsegold
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Jun 27, 2015 - 10:14am PT
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Any updates?
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 12:09pm PT
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hey there say, ... 2:05 pm, june 27th: (but this might be my michigan time,
and not calif time... ???)
so perhaps IF calif time, then, email was from june 27th 11:00 am, then??
got an email from jude, that says they are STILL looking...
oh my...
so this is a bump...
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Kitty123
climber
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Jun 27, 2015 - 01:22pm PT
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He's been found! Looks like he may have 1 or 2 broken legs and is being transported to Fresno. Don't have any more info than that right now, but we're so grateful to know he's been located and getting help.
Kitty - Lars' neighbor
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jonnyrig
climber
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Jun 27, 2015 - 01:36pm PT
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Glad he's found! Hoping for good news going forward.
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climbrunride
Sport climber
Golf Wall, CO
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Jun 27, 2015 - 02:31pm PT
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DAMMIT LARS!!! We all know that you are hard to kill. The universe has certainly tried several times, but you are always too tough. But you could stop putting your friends through all this worry...
Glad you're OK buddy!
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Jun 27, 2015 - 02:45pm PT
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Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. You've been down this road before so you know the way.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 03:10pm PT
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hey there say, kitty123... oh my!!!!!!!! THANK YOU for letting us all know...
oh my!!! happy happy good news... may he heal up well, and without complications... i am so very glad for his wife, family and loved one...
climber buddy, here, rescued, and our worries and/or fears, can
be settled now...
lars! welcome back to your family!!!!
thank god, you are still here with your buddies and family!!!
wow! ...
whatever went wrong... sure wish you had HAD a partner, there, :O
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 03:30pm PT
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hey there say, all... wow, i am just soooo happy for lar's and his family...
wow!!! sorry for the fast 'bump' again...
just so very happy to hear this news... :)
better go do chores, so i don't keep bumping this up for:
wonderful good taco news... :)
edit:
hope you can give us an update, later, kitty123,
or jude...
and, lars, of course, when you are ready, :)
whewww, again, WELCOME HOME!!!!!!!!
WELCOME HOME!!!!!
now get well, soon as you can!!!!
and SMILE!!!!! even if it hurts... amen...
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climbrunride
Sport climber
Golf Wall, CO
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Jun 27, 2015 - 03:36pm PT
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This just in...
He was airlifted to Fresno. He might, or might not, have a broken leg. But he does have some kind of injuries. So it looks like Lars is going to be OK.
Yeah!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 06:09pm PT
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hey there say, climbrunride... thanks for the update...
whewwww, :) let's keep praying that the injuries will be
well soon...
thanks again...
i know, i know, i am just a 'little mama hen' ;)
but i love GOOD NEWS GOT FOUND stuff... :)
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 27, 2015 - 09:42pm PT
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The Merced Sheriff and Search Teams were so well organized, prepared and extremely dedicated to finding our friend. The rescue team from Fresno was covering another area as well. The military sent in a chopper. I followed a ridge I thought him most likely to explore over the majestic Balloon Dome. I found no tracks there.
One of the search teams heard his calls for help but could not locate him. They called in the chopper he was found and a paramedic lowered to him. Everyone was surprised at his unexpected location.
He is recovering in the Fresno hospital and may be on his way home. Lars has at least 114 lives he has used by now. Joe Simpson needs to write a book about this cat.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jun 27, 2015 - 09:52pm PT
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He's lucky they heard his calls for help...otherwise...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 27, 2015 - 10:42pm PT
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hey there say, jude... thank you for the update...
and a huge 'good guy cheer' to you, for alerting us all,
last night...
super good job, jude...
as to this:
One of the search teams heard his calls for help but could not locate him. They called in the chopper he was found and a paramedic lowered to him. Everyone was surprised at his unexpected location.
wow, YOU SEE FOLKS... no matter how unlikely, oh my:
a lost person can be most anywhere, other than WHERE you
think...
kind of scary, too, after the fact, to KNOW that you
were not even WHERE they thought to look ...
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Bad Climber
climber
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Jun 28, 2015 - 04:56pm PT
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Great news, Lars! Hammer a few celebratory adult malt beverage recovery drinks. Will tip a couple back for you, too, don't worry.
Be well. Recover quickly.
BAd
aka Scott from BITD
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Maeday
Trad climber
San Francisco
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Jun 28, 2015 - 05:10pm PT
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sending good vibes your way Lars
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 28, 2015 - 05:41pm PT
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Good news, very good news. I don't think I know him unless it was BITD in the Valley or Meadows, doesn't matter. Heal fast buddy.
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this just in
climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
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Jun 28, 2015 - 06:10pm PT
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Wow, stoked to hear you are OK Lars. I was in the area at Sheep's Crossing and had no idea any of this was going on. So it was Merced and not Madera SAR? Regardless, happy a fellow soyo'er has just another campfire story to tell.
Regards,
Justin
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couchmaster
climber
|
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Jun 28, 2015 - 06:23pm PT
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St prayers are strong, they were answered! But hey there say Lars, I don't use Block and Boulder attractant stuff myself, it's too easy to put on too much. But in case no one has mentioned it yet, you might want a "Chock Block" for your chalk bag, not "ROCK BLOCK ATTRACTANT". Hope that helps you the next time.
Glad it worked out this go round, heal up.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Jun 28, 2015 - 06:52pm PT
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Well, if this is the same gent with whom I traded emails at the beginning of June, I'm sure glad you are Okay, if a little more "beat up" from the wear and tear on your body.
A little R & R on the back porch might be called for here, bud.
Justin--
WITF is Sheep's Crossing? Madera, Merced, or Fresno County?
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this just in
climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
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Jun 28, 2015 - 07:45pm PT
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Madera Mouse. Mammoth trailhead, the crossing above Miller's and goes from Granite Creek to Red's Meadow if you follow it out.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 30, 2015 - 06:08pm PT
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hey there say, Alcy... thanks for sharing the link...
we appreciate it very much...
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jun 30, 2015 - 09:37pm PT
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Were the cheerleaders unscathed...?
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Topic Author's Reply - May 10, 2016 - 02:58pm PT
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Here is the story that prompted this thread.
Everyday Hero II: True Teamwork
In backcountry climbing, the approach can be just as hazardous as the climb
Dougald MacDonald
May 6, 2016
http://www.climbing.com/people/everyday-hero-ii-true-teamwork/
I hung out with Lars last week. As you can tell he has not lost his sense of humor. We had a blast and some dang good ribs he BBQ'd.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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May 10, 2016 - 05:21pm PT
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hey there say, mtnmun... say, thanks for the good fun update... :)
lars... i STILL love and cherish that wonderful print of yours, here,
hanging in my tea, mahjong, and NOW NEW PIANO room...
:)
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