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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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May 20, 2013 - 02:48pm PT
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Eric - thanks and you're welcome.
very true regarding the wounds that are not visible.
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mcbaker
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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May 20, 2013 - 02:50pm PT
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I saw the same blocks jmarty mentioned yesterday. Definitely left of the heart and closer to 5pm. Big stuff. Very visible from the meadow.
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GhoulweJ
Trad climber
El Dorado Hills, CA
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May 20, 2013 - 02:56pm PT
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Left of the Heart was a second rockfall. I expect unrelated to the first rock fall.
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Michelle
Social climber
1187 Hunterwasser
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May 20, 2013 - 02:58pm PT
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My condolences to the survivor(s) of this event and the family.
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gstock
climber
Yosemite Valley
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May 20, 2013 - 02:59pm PT
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For clarity, there were two rockfalls from El Capitan yesterday. The first was from the Muir Wall and was climber-induced. The second occurred much later in the day from farther west-northwest (climber's left of the Heart) and was apparently naturally triggered. The two events were unrelated, but both emphasize the risk associated with rockfall.
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weezy
climber
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May 20, 2013 - 03:15pm PT
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Rest in peace, Mason.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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May 20, 2013 - 03:19pm PT
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This has been a very dark weekend. After reading the El Cap pictures thread, I saw this thread. They put our rather trivial differences in stark perspective. Again, my condolences to all who were affected by either the Tahquitz or Muir Wall accidents -- which probably consists of most of the climbing community.
John
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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May 20, 2013 - 03:46pm PT
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Sorry to hear about this accident (and the one at Tahquitz).
Below is a marked up version of Lambone's photo which should clarify the location of the loose flake in case the previous discussion was unclear.
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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May 20, 2013 - 04:31pm PT
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A very rough 48 hours for the climbing community. Condolences to all who were part of these incidents directly and indirectly.
Drove up to Tuolumne on Friday and read about the horrible accident on Tahquitz. Then driving back yesterday stopped in Mammoth for dinner and read about the El Cap accident. Two terrible tragedies so close together.
RIP both Mason and Lucas.
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Gal
Trad climber
a semi lucid consciousness
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May 20, 2013 - 04:50pm PT
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I'm so sorry to everyone involved ~ RIP Mason. This has been a bad weekend, did not know until today. I will be thinking of those who have been affected by this, and mourn the loss of a fellow climber(s). ~Catherine.
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GoMZ
Trad climber
Eastern Sierra
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May 20, 2013 - 04:54pm PT
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Oh man, every climbers worse nightmare.
When I read of the location I thought maybe it was the block at the top of pitch 26. That thing was basically tied to the wall when we did this route in 2007. The actual circumstances are much more frightening. How many people have placed gear behind this time bomb (recently even).
So sad to read about this loss. So sorry for all that knew him, he sounds like he was a fine young man.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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May 20, 2013 - 05:25pm PT
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To Mason's friends and family ... My deepest sympathies.
Anyone with a photo of Mason it would be greatly appreciated.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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May 20, 2013 - 06:38pm PT
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It appears Mason was a solid and experienced wall climber.
RIP brother
Better days the way he should be remembered, From 10/22/11 ElCap Report. Solo of 3d. A few days later he did Zodiac.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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May 20, 2013 - 06:50pm PT
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Looking good Mason!!!!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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May 20, 2013 - 06:56pm PT
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It appears this family has suffered this tragedy before. So very shocking. I am at a loss for words.
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_climber_dies_in_fall_on_yosemites_el_capitan/33529/
In 1998, Robison’s brother, Mark, who was also an experienced climber, died while attempting to summit Rainbow Peak in Glacier National Park. Also killed in that accident was Chris Foster, of Whitefish. The climbers were several hundred feet from the summit, climbing a snow-covered chimney when they fell to their death.
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PAUL SOUZA
Trad climber
Central Valley, CA
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May 20, 2013 - 07:03pm PT
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Damn.
Thanks for the research Derek!
RIP and condolences to family and friends.
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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May 20, 2013 - 07:03pm PT
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I'm so deeply sorry for all affected by this tragedy.
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norm larson
climber
wilson, wyoming
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May 20, 2013 - 07:12pm PT
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So very sad. Sometimes after an accident you can see all the mistakes that led to it, not here, with this kind of accident it brings it home how it could have been any of us on any day we go climbing. Amazing that no one else was hit below... My heart goes out to the friends and family and to Mason's partner. Peace.
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wbw
Trad climber
'cross the great divide
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May 20, 2013 - 07:28pm PT
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From the amt. of rockfall reported, I have to wonder if when the flake pulled he fell onto the BS on the right and pulled it off before the rope was cut. It's hard to imagine so much up in the crack. Please let me know if you think it would be best take the picture down, and I will.
I don't think there's anything wrong with your picture being posted, Melissa. We all would like to know what happened, and I read a lot of folks on this thread wanting to make sense out of this. It may turn out that it was simply the day that the flake pulled, for no reason that can be explained. I was thinking the same thing about the amount of rockfall being reported, versus Clint's diagram suggesting the flake that pulled. It seems possible that more rock was knocked off in Mason's fall than just the flake. One would think that YOSAR may be able to shed some light on this, based on how far away from the harness the rope was cut. One might speculate that if it was the rock on the right in your picture that cut the rope, the rope would have been cut at some length from the harness.
Two sons lost to climbing is just too much to ponder. My God. My most sincere condolences go out to the friends and family of Mason, and in particular to his parents.
Brad White
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
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May 20, 2013 - 07:48pm PT
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My thoughts also. Clint's yellow arrow points at a crack between a big block and the wall. I think he means there was a small flake inside that crack. But this doesnt explain where the rockfall came from. You are probably right, the cracked rock on the right side of the photo may have all come apart. Maybe Tom Evans can take a picture to show what it looks like now, and we can make a comparison. I dont think it's morbid - we have to analyze accidents to be able to avoid them ourselves.
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