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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Jun 19, 2007 - 02:28pm PT
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I clipped in for about 10 seconds (after Snake Dike), decided it was a PITA, and started batmanning down the usual way. My partner and I were the only ones on them which made for awesome exposure.
This was the first person to ever perish while the cables were up. I consider such a strong record a fabulous testement to the ability of all sorts of humans from children to elderly and fit to unfit to take care of ourselves when we know our life is on the line.
Way more people fall into the drink b/c they don't realize how careful they need to be.
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Jim Leininger
Trad climber
tucson, az
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Jun 19, 2007 - 02:35pm PT
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"Has any of you, that have done the cables, actually seen somebody harness up and clip in? "
Yes, when we used to take our younger Scouts up there, we would rig them up with a very basic swami belt harness, including shoulder straps, and 2 attached runners with biners... That way they could stay clipped in to the cable as they passed the uprights...Worked very well, and gave the kids some confidence to do the climb....
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Wild Bill
climber
Ca
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Jun 19, 2007 - 02:41pm PT
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Melissa, that stat about this being the first 'cables up' death is enlightening.
Rhyang, I have descended the cables and clipped into them. But they were down, so you had to lift them up off the rock anyway. And it was icy in mid-March, like in that photo. And I was a noob to boot. I'm now amazed I didn't die slipping off the icy steps below the cables. THAT was a perfect opportunity for death. Sheesh, NPS needs a handrail there too, while we're cleaning things up.
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cleo
Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
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Jun 19, 2007 - 03:29pm PT
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I was up for the first time on Sat after SnakeDike and it was eerie - only a half dozen hikers left after the death, and YOSAR recovering the body (thanks YOSAR - we appreciate you guys).
And yes, we clipped in on the way down. Without gloves, I felt like I had very little control on the slippery rocks with sweaty hands on those cables: I'm surprised there aren't more deaths.
I think they ought to just a second cable system with wooden slats (e.g. every 2 feet instead of every 10) for footholds.
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ADK
climber
truckee
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Jun 19, 2007 - 03:36pm PT
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Reactionary policy-making is never a good idea.
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Jun 19, 2007 - 03:37pm PT
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I'm having a little trouble converging this report: "They told a group leader they saw Nohara, wearing a large backpack, lose his footing..." with the statement by the NPS that he wasn't doing anything dangerous. I'd consider the addition of a large backpack as adding risk to the ascent.
When I was reading the posts earlier in the thread, I was just like "leave 'em up, people have to take responsibility for themselves", but at this point I have to say I think they should just remove them and call it quits. Especially if you have people like that "ADL" weasel out there calling for safety nets. Eliminate the thrill ride, pull 'em down! The park service doesn't owe the public a thrill ride.
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gonz
Trad climber
Yofukinsemite
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Jun 19, 2007 - 04:48pm PT
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yeah i heard they were replacing the cables with escalotors
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
look around look around, tell me what you've found
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 19, 2007 - 04:51pm PT
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slide up in the escalade.
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rhyang
Ice climber
SJC
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Jun 19, 2007 - 06:37pm PT
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I think they ought to just a second cable system with wooden slats (e.g. every 2 feet instead of every 10) for footholds.
This sounds a lot like via ferrata ... not such a bad idea imo if they end up changing anything at all.
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Gene
climber
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Jun 19, 2007 - 06:56pm PT
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Does anyone know if the cables route follows George Anderson's FA of Half Dome? I have always assumed it does, but I don't actually know.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jun 20, 2007 - 12:20pm PT
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Next time that you are up there, look around and you can see plenty of evidence as to where Anderson took his ladder. The man liked a big piece of metal in that hole so his trail is pretty conspicuous upon close inspection. Of course, he had plenty of options considering his methods but I for one am glad that he chose the East facing shoulder rather than.......
Just a little less work......Ed Cooper photo.
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Domingo
Mountain climber
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Jun 20, 2007 - 12:30pm PT
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"The sentiment seems to be 'climb at your own risk', and I don't think that's right."
I'm all for making it safer, but this mentality makes me want to kill myself.
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