Yosemite Middle Cathedral huge rockfall July 12.

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Messages 21 - 40 of total 44 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Roger Brown

climber
Oceano, California
Jul 20, 2011 - 05:01pm PT
The 1000' of rope west of Mikey's ropes are mine with ASCA signs on them. I just got back down to the Valley and plan to hike up to the base tomorrow and see how things look. I will access from the West and take the Camera. Where everything landed should say a lot.
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
Jul 20, 2011 - 05:08pm PT
Wow! I was camping in Crane Flat last week, and spent parts of several of the days in the Valley, but fortunately missed that rockfall. I often boulder by traversing the NE and N faces, but didn't last week, thank God.

I doubt that it reached the road, since there were no effects of it that I saw. Scary, nonetheless.

John
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Jul 20, 2011 - 05:37pm PT
gnar, glad no one got wrecked.
Sean Jones

climber
Jul 21, 2011 - 01:36am PT
That whole side of the valley is so scary. Seen way too much fall off of everything on that side in my time here. Done with that side..... haha going bouldering.
The Real Mad Dog

Gym climber
Napa, CA
Jul 21, 2011 - 09:32pm PT
I'm sure YNP geologist Greg Stock is on top of Yosemite Valley rockfall monitoring. I told him when he got his job that Yosemite is about rockfall, not glaciers. No other west-side canyon has as much rockfall, although the Sierra's cliff with the most is likely to be Lovers Leap. A heck of a lot of fresh talus from a relatively small wall.
mikeyschaefer

climber
Yosemite
Jul 21, 2011 - 10:07pm PT
Here's a pic from a couple days ago showing where I believe the rockfall came from.



And here a link to the full resolution image (30mb) if you want to zoom in.

http://mikeylikesrocks.com/dropbox/Middle_Cathedral.jpg
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Jul 22, 2011 - 12:35am PT
don't tell me climbers don't contribute to science in the park!

geology preserved thru time with all our climbing shots!
gstock

climber
Yosemite Valley
Jul 26, 2011 - 09:51am PT
Thanks everyone for the photos and info, it's all very helpful. I'm glad those pushing routes on Middle Cathedral are ok. You all probably know this, but rockfall areas can be active for quite some time after an initial failure (weeks to months in some cases), so it might be wise to wait a bit before walking the base.

Climbers have indeed contributed substantially to rockfall research in Yosemite through eyewitness reports, photos, video, etc. The idea of monitoring deformation of a flake due to temperature changes originated with conversations I had with climbers who have directly observed this. Hopefully I'll have a chance to share the results of some of that research at the Facelift this year.

Greg Stock
Yosemite Park Geologist
(209) 379-1420
greg_stock@nps.gov

ElCapPirate

Big Wall climber
California
Aug 26, 2011 - 09:42pm PT


Video of the two seperate rockfalls on Middle Cathedral:

http://vimeo.com/28221780
gstock

climber
Yosemite Valley
Aug 26, 2011 - 10:30pm PT
Great video, thanks for posting. Indeed, what is it with you guys and rockfall? Be sure to let me know when the two of you get on your next El Cap route - I'll have my rockfall kit ready.

Greg
Texplorer

Trad climber
Sacramento
Aug 27, 2011 - 12:47am PT
I took some video of the end of this rockfall.

http://www.vimeo.com/28224601
gstock

climber
Yosemite Valley
Aug 27, 2011 - 10:32am PT
Thanks for posting that Texplorer. Note that your video caption states June 12, but that rockfall occurred on July 12 - you might want to correct that.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Aug 27, 2011 - 10:26pm PT
Holy Cathedral Batman!
Two perspectives of the same rockfall. Amazing vids
Largo

Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
Aug 30, 2011 - 02:13am PT
that's a mighty close call there Mickey. Somebody loves you.
gstock

climber
Yosemite Valley
Sep 1, 2011 - 11:14am PT
FYI, there was another rockfall from the north face of Middle Cathedral this morning at about 7:20 am. It appears to have originated from the same location as the July 5 and July 12 events.

Greg
mikeyschaefer

climber
Yosemite
Sep 1, 2011 - 01:01pm PT
Hey Greg do you have any photos of the exact location? And idea about sized compared to the lsat couple rock falls?

I was really hoping things would chill out up there for the fall but it doesn't look like that is happening.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Sep 1, 2011 - 02:28pm PT
Greg
fall climbing season in the Valley is fast approaching.
Do you have an update of what parts of Middle Cathedral to avoid?
Perhaps just "stay away from the fresh rockfall zones"?
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Sep 1, 2011 - 02:52pm PT
Bob and I "surveyed the damage" on July 22-24.
As you can probably tell from "rain of rocks" and dust clouds in the videos, there's fresh gravel and various sized rocks along the base from Quicksilver to Mother Earth.
The few small bushes/oaks along the base were either easily buried or had their leaves stripped.
There's one fir that got broken off halfway up by a big impact.

I looked at the climbs. There was a little dust but no real damage to the slab, as the major impact hit a couple of blocky areas just 20' or so above the base. The bolt hangers all appeared to be intact except for one on Cat Dancing that was slightly bent (Fixe 4mm hanger).

I would personally advise waiting until at least next spring to climb in this zone, hoping the winter rain/snow will clear off any perched debris from up by the source. I think it would be OK currently to climb routes left of Quicksilver and routes right of Mother Earth.
Roger Brown

climber
Oceano, California
Sep 1, 2011 - 05:05pm PT
Wow,
I just pulled my fixed ropes from both sides of Mikey's first pitch rope last week. I tied off the core-shot on the first pitch rope so it can be jugged easier but that probably doesn't matter now.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Sep 1, 2011 - 06:41pm PT
Clint
you were out there in the zone without helmets? I'd have had a helmet and flak vest. Thanks for the report from the scene of the action.
Messages 21 - 40 of total 44 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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