Anyone know any details on a fatality in Yosemite yesterday?

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Messages 1 - 20 of total 53 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Heloise Pendagrast

Trad climber
Tahoe City
Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 31, 2015 - 06:55pm PT
Friends are calling from Colorado to try and obtain details ... Any info is appreciated. Apparently family has been notified.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Oct 31, 2015 - 09:23pm PT
hey there say, oh no.... :(
climba

climber
Nov 1, 2015 - 08:57am PT
Yes. There was a fatal rappelling accident on Washington Column on October 30th.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Nov 1, 2015 - 09:49am PT
Sorry to hear this.
R.I.P.
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
Nov 1, 2015 - 09:49pm PT
uh oh -- condolences to the family and friends
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:02am PT
Any news released on who this was, or what happened yet?

Bummer.
Spiny Norman

Social climber
Boring, Oregon
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:02am PT
That's terribly sad. Condolences to friends & family.

And for those still here, check your rig and check your buddy's rig. Then check them again…
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:09am PT
http://kingflyercollective.com/blogs/stories-from-the-field/62229701-to-our-brother-ethan-f-gillett

Rip
crankster

Trad climber
No. Tahoe
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:18am PT
Sorry to hear.
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:22am PT
.......... :( ...........bummed. Don't know what to say....

Thanks for the link jefe. Cool write up
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:24am PT
Thanks for posting that Jefe.

Fixed line that just ended out in nowhere?
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:24am PT
RIP Ethan Gillett.
Condolences to all
Jan

Mountain climber
Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:28am PT
The first fatality among the close knit professional climbing community in Yosemite in the 1960's occurred on Washington's Column under similar circumstances. Sad that it's still happening. RIP.
steve s

Trad climber
eldo
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:33am PT
RIP Ethan. Condolences to family and friends.
Please be careful out there.
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:33am PT
We hear stories of accidents unfortunately often. We are climbers, we are all cut from the same cloth and when this happens it hurts us all. When it happens to our core, our family, it’s a hard reminder that the risks we take are real, with real consequences. And for this reason, it’s worth saying what happened.

Ethan rappelled off the end of a fixed line. He was the most solid, careful climber I knew, and yet this happened. Maybe it was the fatigue of a long ascent up Washington Column, maybe something else: it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you, everyone, be safe. Please be safe. There is always time to double-check the system, to pull up the line and put a knot in the end. There’s always time for that.

And to you, Ethan, may you shine, shine, shine upon the mountain tops. For now we all have another reason to reach the summit: to be closer to you.

Beautifully said and all of our collective reality.
climba

climber
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:40am PT
As far as I know, there was a fixed line on pitch 6 of the South Face (fixed at top and bottom of the pitch), and one or more fixed lines going from the bottom of pitch 6 to dinner ledge. It appears he rapped off the few feet of tail at the bottom of the line on pitch 6. Please be extra careful when rappelling everyone! Especially when rappelling at night, when you can't see the end of your rope because it's dark or below an overhang, when tired, and/or when rapping on somebody else's lines. Take your time to get things right.
Alpamayo

Trad climber
Davis, CA
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:49am PT
Also worth mentioning that on the occasion I have had to leave a tail/leftover end on a fixed line that there is the possibility of someone else using, I still tie a knot in it just in case I/someone else mistakes it for the next line.
Ihateplastic

Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
Nov 2, 2015 - 09:56am PT
Sad. But these sort of accidents are 100% preventable and should NOT be happening!
CCT

Trad climber
Nov 2, 2015 - 10:55am PT
So sorry to hear about this. Darkness, being tired, it's so easy to make a simple mistake.

Condolences to all involved.
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
Nov 2, 2015 - 11:01am PT
Terrible news, yet again. There, but by the grace of God, go I. Condolences to friends and family. We all feel the pain.

John
Messages 1 - 20 of total 53 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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