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climbupdivedown
Trad climber
Stanford, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 10, 2009 - 01:35am PT
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The climb at Church Bowl has now a new look. The big leaning tree with a big branch traversing the route just 30' up the start had a break down today. Unfortunately for us we were climbing the route. I was belaying Norbert on TR with Edwina sitting next to me when we started hearing some small creaking noises. We were puzzling over it when there was a very loud crack and the whole tree started rolling toward us, quite fast. I just had the time to get to my feet to scramble and try to avoid the flying shrapnel when everything stopped, the other tree just below stopped the falling one. No injuries, just a scrap on an elbow from flying wood, my hand never left the belay, but it was a bit exciting. I am very glad Norbert was past the tree and by some miracle the rope didn't get caught by it. The whole thing may still be unstable, watch out. And the branch wasn't dead, plenty of green leaves. I reported it to a ranger on my way out.
Marcos.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Aug 10, 2009 - 01:45am PT
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whoa!
that was a close one.
pic of the tree?
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GDavis
Trad climber
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Aug 10, 2009 - 02:47am PT
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waaaat??
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posafred
Boulder climber
Mariposa, CA
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Aug 10, 2009 - 02:50am PT
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wow, really, need pics of this!!!!!
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climbupdivedown
Trad climber
Stanford, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 10, 2009 - 11:28am PT
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Edwina took a pic after the event. I ll ask her to post or let me post it.
Marcos
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Aug 10, 2009 - 12:17pm PT
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That was an amazing huge tree. Wow.
Sorry to hear that
Weird too. No big wind or snow or rain...
Peace
Karl
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Aug 10, 2009 - 01:28pm PT
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Oak trees often fall without warning, especially in the summer. Usually heart rot and then the weight of summer foliage. And perhaps the hot sap expanding.
Damn. That must have been scary. Glad you made it OK. Were you belaying from the ground?
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Aug 10, 2009 - 01:31pm PT
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edwina and norbert? wow 23 skiddo to you too. . .
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10b4me
Gym climber
Happy Boulders
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Aug 10, 2009 - 04:34pm PT
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did that climb over twenty years ago, and again back in 2006. I remember the thing was covered in ants
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 10, 2009 - 04:35pm PT
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A whole new twist to the question "Does my fanny look big in this?"
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Aug 10, 2009 - 05:16pm PT
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Marcos,
I'm glad to hear you are all OK. Pretty scary - not a hazard that we are usually looking out for!
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climbupdivedown
Trad climber
Stanford, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 10, 2009 - 07:26pm PT
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Thanks Clint.
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climbupdivedown
Trad climber
Stanford, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 10, 2009 - 08:26pm PT
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I was belaying from the ground, a good thing as the ledge got hit pretty bad by branches and flying wood. I had belayed Norbert for his lead from the ledge, the tree was kind enough to wait 30mn. We put no sling on the tree and as far as I know we didn't step on it. The point where it broke is on the main trunk on the right of the climb, about 10' from the ground, it is still attached, or was when we left, with a kind of spiral fracture. Maybe still some spring force in the system. The main horizontal trunk went down about 20' from where it used to be, until it hit the other big oak.
Marcos.
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Ray-J
Social climber
east L.A. vato...
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Aug 10, 2009 - 08:38pm PT
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Aunt Fanny's pantry strikes back...hahaaa!, glad U R OK,
The cliffs, oceans, giant sequoia, it is all alive and moving.
all things are conncected and, in truth, all things
really are "one". I say this from just sitting there, in the cradle
Of nature for 30/40 years or so...not from reading or any media
Bullsh#t...the illusion is the seperation...
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Aug 10, 2009 - 09:47pm PT
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all things have a voice, if only we would listen.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 10, 2009 - 11:27pm PT
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hey there say, high traverse, say, i have HEARD of that kind of thing before---the heart-rot, etc...
say, climbupdivedown (hope i got that right--will have to go check, in case i need to edit)... i am very glad the two of you are okay... as if there isn't enough to take care over, even the unthought-of scenery extentions can be unstable, whewwwww....
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climbupdivedown
Trad climber
Stanford, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 11, 2009 - 01:45pm PT
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Here are the pics taken by Edwina.
Marcos.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Boise....
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Aug 11, 2009 - 01:49pm PT
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uh, maybe resize down a bit?
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climbupdivedown
Trad climber
Stanford, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 11, 2009 - 01:54pm PT
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That was a little big, sorry for that, I hope it's better now.
Marcos.
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