Trip Report
Gear at The Needles - please help!

by Cupery
Monday August 1, 2011 1:52am
Hi friends,

Yesterday my husband, Graham Ottley, took a terrible fall during the descent hike from the Needles back to the trailhead. He fell, after slipping on a wet slab, at least 200 feet, and after incredible response, care, and support Forest Service fire crews and a paramedic, he was hoisted out of the Needles by a CHP helicopter and brought to the Trauma Center in downtown Fresno. It's a miracle he's alive and is not dead or permanently injured from head trauma or hypothermia.

But I'm writing to ask for help retrieving our gear! We stashed our gear, not including rope (so one normal climbing pack - 30 liters or so - will be enough space to carry everything), near the site of the accident, and without knowing what Graham's recovery will be like, I have no idea when I will be able to return to retrieve the gear. If anyone is hiking or climbing in the Needles anytime soon (today is July 31st), please respond to this post, and I can give you more details to help you decide whether or not you're willing to help. I'm definitely happy to compensate for your time or energy or driving or whatever is appropriate. We live in Oakhurst, near Yosemite, and I'll drive to meet you on your way out of the Needles or at your next destination.

Graham is suffering, but he's expected to have a full recovery. He broke NO bones during the fall, and more miracles have happened since. Thanks for considering our request!

Yours,
Sarah Cupery Ottley and Graham Ottley

  Trip Report Views: 3,015
Cupery 		About the Author
Cupery is a trad climber from Oakhurst, CA.

Comments
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Aug 1, 2011 - 02:50am PT
wow, with that kind of excellent luck, I have no doubt you'll find someone to help pull your gear out.

hell, I don't know the area at all, so I'm not a good candidate for this, but if all else fails, let me know I'll go get it for you. Have wanted to visit the area for a long time.
Crimpergirl

Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
  Aug 1, 2011 - 10:37am PT
Bump. Heal well!
k-man

Gym climber
SCruz
  Aug 2, 2011 - 12:33am PT
Sounds like this is the true definition of a "trip" report!















(Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun.)

I am certain you'll find a kind soul to retrieve your gear, and I hope that you and Graham get to use it in the very near future.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
  Aug 1, 2011 - 11:50am PT
Hi, I heard about the accident and helo rescue from a friend who owns a home in Ponderosa.

The same person tells me now that the dirt road, camping area and trail are all closed indefinitely. If this is correct your gear is relatively safe, but can only be retrieved by someone willing to make the hike up from the lower road, quite a project.

I'll see what I can learn about th status of the upper road access, and the USFS plans for the rest of the season in that regard...

Good news he'll be okay.
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
  Aug 1, 2011 - 12:25pm PT
Best wishes to Graham for a full recovery.

You'll get your gear back eventually, I'm sure.
Dirka

Trad climber
Hustle City
  Aug 1, 2011 - 10:40pm PT
Heal up!
mooch

Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Riverkern Annex)
  Aug 2, 2011 - 02:19pm PT
Hmmmm.....me thinks by the time you retrieve the gear once the closure is lifted, you may have some corroded/rusted gear. With the occassional isolated t-storms passing overhead throughout the summer and no form of moisture absorbing material to keep it at bay, you MAY have some trashed gear on your hands. We purposely stashed gear for a 4 month period for a future trip, wrapped in THREE waterproof layers and a two desiccant pads. Came back and found the gear comppletely ruined from both intergranular and galvanic corrosion......most of the cams were done. Not trying to say this will be the case but if the gear was exposed, the pack got damp and the gear was in close contact, chances are that it will be attacked by corrosion.
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Aug 2, 2011 - 02:37pm PT

I hope your husband will be okay, and that you get your gear back.
Best wishes.
MSpencer

climber
  Aug 6, 2011 - 03:20pm PT
Sarah,
Shirley and I just head about Graham's accident this morning. Our thoughts are with you both and we are wishing him a speedy recovery.

Mark and Shirley Spencer
rincon

climber
Coarsegold
  Aug 6, 2011 - 08:35pm PT
The Needles can be accessed from the lower road. The upper road is probably closed, but the lower road is open for sure.

Same appoach as for White Punks on Dope, just keep going up the gully to the ridge. It's a big hike though, especially if your gear is stashed near Magician.
Dirk

Trad climber
QUEENS NEW YORK
  Aug 11, 2011 - 07:59pm PT
Sarah,
Best wishes to your husband for a speedy recovery. I'll let you know if I come across any leads for the gear.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
  Aug 11, 2011 - 08:27pm PT
Last week when I called the Tule River Ranger District I was told that they were setting Friday the 12th as their goal for opening, and I was hoping to get up there for a while starting then (tomorrow.)

Well I called yesterday, and as I expected the cleanup work from the tower fire is taking longer than that. There is a lot of debris still on top and also a lot of stuff fell off. They do not want climbers traversing the slabs under the tower or arriving at the summit via a Magician route while the work is going on. She would not say when it might open.

I was also told the entire area is closed including access from the lower road. I'm not sure she really knew what she was talking about, since the lower road is in a different Ranger District but I didn't discuss it further or call the other district on the theory that the inquiry would get them to thinking...

Now the only thing keeping me from going up from the bottom is the awful smoke from the Lion Fire. It clears up later in the day, but every day right now from sunrise to about 1PM it is really thick.

This webcam is lookig SE to The Needles from Jordan Peak, above Camp Nelson: Jordan Pk cam. You can look at current conditions or roll back to the morning.

This is the incident report on the fire. http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2400/
tinker b

climber
the commonwealth
  Aug 12, 2011 - 08:30am PT
i just wanted to give sarah and graham a bump. since they don't post here most people don't know who they are, but sarah is the amazing fiddle player from the trespassers. also just an overall great human being ( graham too.) i would go down there myself, but i am stuck in massachusettes. cheers to ksolem for helping out.
jolynne
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