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| Messages 1 - 14 of total 14 in this topic |
dindolino32
climber
omaha, ne
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 6, 2013 - 07:16pm PT
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We saw YOSAR helicopter yesterday hauling something from around the base of the Nose. Anybody know what was going on? Date was 7/5/13.
Also the helicopter was active the day before, 4th of July, but we didn't see them do anything. We were going up the El Cap tree (start of Iron Hawk) when it showed.
I heard maybe it was a base jumper, but couldn't find anything about it.
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dindolino32
climber
omaha, ne
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 6, 2013 - 07:27pm PT
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sorry, I guess I am a terrible reader. Keep mistaking dates!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Word couple nights ago (July 4th) from witnesses was a basejumper augered in.. but reports sounded more like a suicide jumper.
Anycase was a body possibly tracking in a delta position but no pull.. that hit the ground quite a ways out from the face.. noisy..
:(
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ElCapPirate
Big Wall climber
Reno, Nevada
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Nothing to do with a BASE jumper. Probable suicide and note at top. Very sad!
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Crazy Bat
Sport climber
Birmingham, AL & Seweanee, TN
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I've been suicidal, but jumping from El Cap. Too long to think about the landing.
Not trying to be funny. I really couldn't jump. High enough to do the job and I would have had too much time to contemplate the end and I was convinced that a solution to my problems would occur to me on the way down.
I wasn't often serious. It was frequently a cry for help. Thank god I got it. And thank god for good drugs!
How sad.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Thanks for the info Pirate. I was just passing along what I had heard in Camp 4 from some folks who saw it from the alcove swing. It was just kinda still sinking in for them what they had witnessed. Like most eyewitness reports of something that happens quickly it's hard even for them to be sure exactly what they saw. Apparently the jumper wasn't flailing or on his back or tumbling. It just didn't make sense. You'd expect someone with that kind of control to pull a chute or if that failed you'd expect something to have happenned. A partial deployement, a scream a change in posture or???
But they seemed pretty sure that this jumper just tracked out into the trees and went in.
The only thing that seemed to make sense was a suicide. 4th of July seems kinda symbolic. Condolences to family and loved ones.
On a side note I had just left the meadow as rangers were showing up. The last time I'd been in the meadow had been pretty somber due to Mason's tragedy. Super hot day but some folks still heading up the big stone. Saw a group on the Nose and another group down low a bit left or near LIA. I had just been thinking how it was much better to be there without a body recovery going on sadly unaware another was just beginning.
Seems these things bug me more than they did 10 to 20 years ago when I was being a serious climber. Perspective on life has changed I guess and perhaps it's like the older guys were telling me when I was a youngster.
Anyway once again I come back from the valley ..where my heart calls Home.. Affected a bit.. I suppose better to focus on what a great day climbing I had with new friends and especially getting back down to the river and watching smiling kids jumping in.. New life living a beautiful dream.
I've rambled on enough .. jeeez
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harryhotdog
Social climber
north vancouver, B.C.
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Perspective on life has changed I guess and perhaps it's like the older guys were telling me when I was a youngster.
So true,it's the circle of life and unfortunately not every gets to go around all the way to see it from a different perspective.
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Bad Climber
climber
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Man, sad as hell. RIP.
I feel for Werner and crew having to deal with the recovery. If yer that bummed, gotta end it all, take a bunch of pills, 'kay?
BAd
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
climber
?
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Jul 10, 2013 - 05:09pm PT
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...this jumper just tracked out into the trees and went in.
I wonder if anybody has wingsuit suicided?
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Dirt Bag 619
Sport climber
St George, UT
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Jul 21, 2013 - 03:30am PT
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I was one of the people at the rope swing that saw it happen. His squirrel suit was just flapping and not really catching any air but he was solidly horizontal and not tumbling, flailing, or anything, didn't make a sound. We lost sight of him at the tree line and heard the impact a split second later.
I emailed the rangers last week since I hadn't been able to find any accident reports online and they said they were still investigating and didn't offer any new info. The only thing that makes me doubt suicide is why would you wear a squirrel suit? Who knows though, people do crazy things. Pretty sad stuff regardless of the cause.
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WBraun
climber
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Jul 21, 2013 - 12:48pm PT
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There was NO squirrel suit!
He had normal shirt and pants on ......
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
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Jul 22, 2013 - 12:21am PT
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skydivers/ BASE have been tracking like that long before wingsuits were invented. BTW - are witnesses, or SAR ever offerred counseling for some of this stuff they see?
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Vegasclimber
Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV.
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Jul 22, 2013 - 03:57am PT
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Not sure what YOSAR has in place for that, but I'm sure someone will cover it.
Our SAR team has two chaplains on it, and we have a list of numbers for outreach in case someone needs a little extra help.
Condolences to the family and friends, I hate this stuff. Seems like this happens at least once a year, hucking themselves off HD or the Cap. No way I would ever do something like that for sure.
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| Messages 1 - 14 of total 14 in this topic |
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