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Bilbo
Trad climber
Truckee
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It doesn't matter what they should have done, its what has been done.
You guys on MMSP stay strong, Learn from what happened, and take some runs in there honor....
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Let's not monday morning quarterback this tradgedy. Sure SCBA'a and being roped up would have saved them but it was never a problem in the several years past. I am sure there will be SCBA's in the shack at the top of 3 from now on. This is a task performed after every large storm and as far as I know it has never been an issue. I'll let the folks on the ski patrol give there impressions and leave it at that.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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What type of cavity do the vents produce?
What do they look like from above?
Is it just a circular hole in the ground?
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Bodega, CA
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I'm so sorry to hear this. I heard the sobering knews last night from none other than Bill Lundeen. Be careful everyone.
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LuckyPink
Trad climber
Petaluma
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James Juarez, John "Scott" McAndrews & Charles Walter Rosenthal:
heard from someone else, cannot confirm. tragedy for all, especially surviving patrollers.
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GoMZ
Trad climber
Paradise
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Here is what Mammoth has to say.
April 7, 2006
Contact: Rusty Gregory, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area CEO 760.934.0645
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, CA -- At approximately 11:29am yesterday,
Thursday, April 6, 2006, four experienced Mammoth Mountain Ski
Patrollers were inspecting the mountain after recent heavy snowstorms.
The patrollers were fencing off a natural hazard, a deep gas vent, on
Christmas Bowl run, east of Chair 3 when the snow around the vent
collapsed. Two patrollers, John McAndrews and James Juarez, fell into
the approximately 6-ft hole, down 21 feet of snow to the earth. Two
patrollers attempting to help, Walter Rosenthal and Jeff Bridges,
descended into the hole. Members of Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol working
nearby quickly initiated additional rescue efforts and were assisted by
the Mammoth Lakes Fire Department and Mono County Paramedics. The
victims were immediately transported to Mammoth Hospital. Mammoth
Mountain Ski Patroller Jeff Bridges survived and Rosenthal, McAndrews
and Juarez perished as a result of the accident.
Additional employees who assisted in the rescue were transported to
Mammoth Hospital for observation. A total of seven were admitted and six
were kept overnight including Bridges. All are expected to be released
by mid-morning today.
The cause of death has not yet been determined by the Mono County
Sheriff's Department but is possibly due to oxygen deprivation and/or
being overcome by toxic gasses. The information will be released pending
autopsies and toxicological results.
Victims
James Juarez, 35, a five-year veteran of Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol
originally from Granada Hills, California.
John "Scott" McAndrews, 37, a Mammoth Mountain Ski Patroller for one
year from Bishop, California.
Charles Walter Rosenthal, 58, of Sunny Slopes, California a veteran of
Mammoth Mountain Ski Patroller since 1972.
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T-2
Mountain climber
Baldwin Park , Calif.
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This is terrible news in a season aready filled with enough bad news from Mammoth. I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend, Kath. I did not know Walter, but would have been honored. Very sad. All are in my thoughts.
Tony Yeary
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TC
Social climber
No matter where you go, there you are.
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WBraun
climber
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Seeing his colleagues in danger, Charles Rosenthal, 58, of Sunny Slopes, Calif., a veteran of the ski patrol since 1972, went into the pit.
He carried oxygen tanks for each of his friends, but wore none himself. "He too was overcome," said Gregory.
Gregory said Rosenthal moved into the area "without regard for his own life…it was truly a poignant human tragedy."
At that point, a fourth ski patroller, Jeff Bridges, 51, went into the hole, using an oxygen tank. He too was quickly overcome.
Finally, an unidentified patroller (dave from the above post?), attached to a rope, went in without oxygen and pulled Bridges to safety.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Seems to me a 3" steel pipe about 30 ft tall should be installed to mark the vents location. Never let anyone get within say 50ft of the pole.
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marty(r)
climber
beneath the valley of ultravegans
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Scottie was an incredibly warm, caring person who touched a lot of lives through Outward Bound, potlucks, and more recently, at the bakery in Bishop. I can't believe he's gone. Even on this side of the mountains in SF I can feel the loss of something special on the East Side.
If anyone out there has contact info for Eric Malone or Peter Carrick, please pass word along to them. I'm sure there's a phone relay thing being done through the OB community, but those guys should know.
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WBraun
climber
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Me and Walter Rosenthal lived together for a few years both in Camp 4 on the Sar site and he was my roommate in Mammoth for two winters at the Davidson apartments.
Now it's two great Walters that have succumbed to tragedy.
There's not much for me to say about this tragedy except I'm so sorry all this happened to these wonderful people yesterday.
May God be with you three and your surviving loved ones.
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Mike Morley
climber
San Luis Obispo
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Scottie and I worked together as instructors for Outward Bound (PCOBS) out of the Sierra basecamp. I can honestly say that he was one of the most caring, kind-hearted, and generous individuals that I've ever met. At our annual fundraising events to raise money for kids who couldn't afford to come on an OB course, Scottie would invariably (after a few beers) start donating large portions of his future paychecks. That's just the kind of guy he was. Scottie, I'll miss you buddy.
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sexy rexy
Trad climber
north west las vegas
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man thats f*#king terriable, i worked as the room nurse in patrol back in 2001 all those guys are rad as sh#t walter was one of the coolest guys i still have a book i borrowed from him about high sierra ski traverses, i used to sit in the main patrol room and bullshit with walter all day about the snow pack and he would just fill my head with knowledge. man that guy was one cool ass dude and one of the smartest guys i have ever meet, its a sad day indeed.. rex
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Mini
Social climber
Bishop, CA
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We heard about it yesterday late in the afternoon but had no names. Was tipped off about some wild Mussypotamia thread and was logging in late last night for a fix. Sadly and in disbelief found Walter's name mentioned. I woke up my wife and all she could say was, "but he was just here with Lilly and Laurie." Isn't that always just how it is with this life.
We spoke to Laurie this afternoon and she seems to be hanging in there. I think she's more worried about what is going to happen when its all "over." When everyone surrounding her now shrinks back into the woodwork and life grinds on again...
I watched giant spindrift vortexes blowing off the tops of Basin and Mt. Tom today, biggest I've ever seen. Furious, delicate.
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Mark Rodell
Trad climber
Bangkok
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This morning in the Bangkok Post I read 'Three ski patrol men...' and I thought of Walter. Meet him in '70 and he was kind and cool and fun. Taught me first about aid and then about being comfortable wiht being ones self. Smart, yes, great on boards, you bet, but most in my mind a very good person who knew how to be a friend. Let you into his house, go climb cause it'd be fun, talk and joke, yeah, he sure laughed great. Had to say, Walter was a special kind.
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cliffhanger
Trad climber
California
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By grooming the area of the dangerous volcanic vents with a snowcat after every snow storm the danger could be eliminated. Groom it so that the snow slopes down to the vent, creating a big open depression. There would be nothing to fall into and nowhere for much deadly gas to accumulate.
Or build a 30' concrete chimney to vent the gas and heat safely up.
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kevin Fosburg
Sport climber
park city,ut
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Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
I never knew Walter Rosenthal though I recall he was someone who others I respect seemed to hold in high regard. My condolences to his loved ones.
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