Awkward helicopter encounter

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Messages 1 - 18 of total 18 in this topic

Braysteph

Trad climber

Arizona

Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 21, 2018 - 04:51pm PT

While climbing today a rescue helicopter was hovering over us for some time. My partner and I signaled to them that everything was fine with us even though we assumed they had to have been looking for someone else who was actually in danger. It eventually landed at the base of the climb and someone was clearly signaling to us that they actually were trying to rescue us. As best as we could we tried signaling again that we’re all good. They left and fifteen minutes later hovered over us while we sat on the summit. Eventually left but was a super trippy experience. Thoughts? Similar encounters?

monolith

climber

state of being

Oct 21, 2018 - 05:17pm PT

So what are the no rescue needed and rescue needed signals?

Fritz

Social climber

Choss Creek, ID

Oct 21, 2018 - 05:44pm PT

This method of refusing a rescue worked, at least for a day or two.

From my story of multiple near-death fiascos on the Chouinard Route on the North Face of Mt. Fay in 1978.

I knew we had to register with the Banff National Park rangers because of the problem a previous W.S.U. Alpine Club party suffered. In the early 1970’s they attempted a winter ascent of Mt Victoria and failed to register. Three days later, concerned rangers followed the climbers ski trail from the parking lot at Lake Louise up under Mt. Victoria in a helicopter.

After a noisy helicopter search the rangers finally spotted the climber's tent high on the Victoria glacier. As the rangers flew low over the climber’s tent, to see if they were safe: all three climbers bare-assed the helicopter. The pilot later confessed that a R.C.M.P. officer (Mountie) aboard, had to be physically restrained from shooting at the climbers. The helicopter flew off down the valley. However, when the climbers finally returned to their VW van; they were arrested, fined, and darkly warned never-ever to return to Canada.

(I should mention: one of the convicted-felons has disputed this part of the story. In dealing with climbing history: I always believe the most damning memories I can dredge up.)

http://www.supertopo.com/tr/MARK-FRITZS-BIG-MT-FAY-1978-CANADIAN-ADVENTURE/t11242n.html

ground_up

Trad climber

mt. hood /baja

Oct 21, 2018 - 06:54pm PT

where were you guys climin' ? that is odd..

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

Sands Motel , Las Vegas

Oct 21, 2018 - 06:59pm PT

The only time i had a helicopter rescue encounter was when we were riding blocks of ice down the steep hills on the Bixby Hills golf course and the LBPD pork chop was trying to shine their spotlight on us hiding under a pine tree...I doubt they were trying to rescue us..

Braysteph

Trad climber

Arizona

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 21, 2018 - 07:21pm PT

Thank you guys lots of great info. We were just giving two thumbs up hoping they’d take that as we’re all good. We were climbing Toms Thumb in Phoenix Az.

Zay

climber

Monterey, Ca

Oct 21, 2018 - 07:35pm PT

In scuba diving, the international sign for "all good" is raising your elbow up high, and resting the fist on top of your head.

Ive seen other people use it but not in climbing... curious if rangers would know it.

climber

away from the ground

Oct 21, 2018 - 07:42pm PT

My partner and I were rapping a FA a few hours away from the road and had a heli show up and start to hover and watch. Pretty close up too. They watched us make an anchor and do the last rap to the ground, then kept hovering and watching. Irritated by the attention and the distruption to our wilderness experience ( read - rotor wash f*#king with bowl burning) we proceeded to give them the international piss off signal. Two full moons with extra cheek spread. They got the hint and bailed.

Jon Beck

Trad climber

Oceanside

Oct 21, 2018 - 07:45pm PT

One hang placed on top of your head means you are okay

herm

Trad climber

Bishop

Oct 21, 2018 - 08:06pm PT

Once upon a time, back country skiing legend Jay Schifferdecker and I were hitch hitch-hiking from Yosemite to JT when we bivid in a ditch somewhere in SoCal. We had to hide under big bundles of tumbleweeds because of the helicopters and search lights. I wonder what that was all about?

Kalimon

Social climber

Ridgway, CO

Oct 21, 2018 - 08:10pm PT

Climbing on the Magician in the Needles, my partners and I had a helicopter buzz us a few times. Perhaps it was because Deanne was climbing topless on the final pitches.

Braysteph

Trad climber

Arizona

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 21, 2018 - 08:41pm PT

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

Sands Motel , Las Vegas

Oct 21, 2018 - 08:45pm PT

Is Deanne in that picture...?

thebravecowboy

climber

The Good Places

Oct 21, 2018 - 09:07pm PT

Generally ignoring them has worked for me, although the scuba/river thing of one hand on head or the one hand wave have worked too. For civil air patrol cessnas though nothing short of the spreadcheek fullmoon seem to convey the message.

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Oct 21, 2018 - 10:42pm PT

We were climbing Toms Thumb in Phoenix

That was their first clue.

My problem has always been how to get them to come get my ass.
Watching them fly past and then flipping them off probably didn’t further my cause, huh?

Tom Patterson

Trad climber

Seattle

Oct 22, 2018 - 08:28am PT

I had that same experience on the East Buttress of Middle several years back. It just hovered straight out from the ledge my partner and I were eating lunch on about 7 or 8 pitches up. The only thing we could figure was there was simultaneously a controlled burn on the valley floor, and a wildfire raging over the ridge behind us. I wondered if they were thinking we'd be trapped between the two, or something. But yeah...eating lunch on the E. Buttress? Weird place to check on our status, we thought.