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CF
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 11, 2010 - 06:27pm PT
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There was a rock fall in the Horsetail Falls area today around noon that kicked up a huge cloud of dust that I could see from Yosemite Lodge. By the time I got down there the cloud had moved east into the valley. Did not hear of any one getting hurt.
Hopefully Tom will have some good photos later!
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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Oct 11, 2010 - 06:29pm PT
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nice shots chris. Is that fresh white debris below your circle?
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Buju
Big Wall climber
the range of light
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Oct 11, 2010 - 06:31pm PT
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WOW!!! I hope Tom was able to capture it!\
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CF
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 11, 2010 - 06:34pm PT
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I have heard that has been a active area so not sure about the white destroyed area below. It did look very fresh and it looks like rocks came all the way down the slabs onto the area left of Demons Delight.
East Buttress climbers beware.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Oct 11, 2010 - 06:37pm PT
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11/10/10, or, in the US, 10/11/10?
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Cpt0bvi0u5
Trad climber
Merced CA
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Oct 11, 2010 - 06:42pm PT
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Glad to see it wasn't on a heavy traffic area of the wall. Sure it gave those climbers to the side a hell of a scare though
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Oct 11, 2010 - 06:43pm PT
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What's up with regan?
is that the waterfall route?
Shudder......
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Slakkey
Big Wall climber
From Back to Big Wall Baby
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Oct 11, 2010 - 06:56pm PT
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Pretty good size one thats for sure
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Oct 11, 2010 - 07:50pm PT
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anybody got a shot of the same area before the fall? Would be interesting to compare.
Was the fall on any established route?
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Oct 11, 2010 - 07:59pm PT
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That was another large rockfall on Saturday, Oct 9, that came from high up above what I believe is the Good Book area west of Camp 4. There is a huge white scar visible up there and it came down from there and I thought was going to reach the road but must not have as I never heard sirens or about any road closure but there was a heck of a dust cloud as I viewed it from Yosemite Point.
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CF
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 11, 2010 - 08:13pm PT
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Same area from 2/09
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Oct 11, 2010 - 08:24pm PT
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3 images from the web cam today
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Buju
Big Wall climber
the range of light
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Oct 11, 2010 - 08:27pm PT
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nobody went to the clinic today(for rockfall related injuries)...hopefully a good sign!
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Gene
Social climber
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Oct 11, 2010 - 08:31pm PT
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Regan on Surgeon General? Any news?
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Tarz
Mountain climber
Calli
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Oct 11, 2010 - 08:31pm PT
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Can anyone tell me if this is near "Bad Seed". My daughter and a friend are climbing it this week. Maybe the two climbers show in the pic?
A concerned pops!
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Oct 11, 2010 - 08:36pm PT
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Cool - thanks for sharing.
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hb81
climber
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Oct 11, 2010 - 08:46pm PT
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Holy cow, thats a huge chunk. If you compare it to the size of the climbers in the picture, I'd say its around 50x50 meters.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Oct 11, 2010 - 09:00pm PT
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The flakes may be exfoliating, but deciduous?
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Blakeb
Gym climber
Southern Oregon, behind her
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Oct 11, 2010 - 09:39pm PT
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well, there have got to be some routes that run through there, i wonder what part of what fell off?? Hopefully Tom will chime in soon and let us know what happened and specifically where
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JesseM
Social climber
Yosemite
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Oct 11, 2010 - 10:43pm PT
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Thanks Chris for posting this,
I'm not sure exactly what routes go through the rockfall area, but I'm pretty sure it is close to the Water Fall Route. Tom will be posting shortly I'm sure and will include photos--and EC Report link of course.
No climbers were effected by the rockfall--other than potentially the need for a change of under garments. Sky and Andy were real close on ?. Must have been absolutely terrifying...can't believe they didn't bail. Hard men. Although maybe they are safer going up.
I posted signs about the fall at both the Devil's Elbow/Zodiac Talus approach, and the Standard (Nose, etc.) approach. We also posted signs at Camp 4 and the Mt. Shop. We are advising climbers that the area had a significant rockfall and appears to still be active, and to avoid the approach to East Buttress and other routes in the Horse Tail Fall area.
The East Buttress route itself was not effected by this fall, and climbers wanting to link Moratorium with the route could continue as planned as long as their bail plans didn't involve the rockfall zone.
Hopefully Greg Stock, our Park Geologist, will also be reading this thread and be available for questions.
Be Safe,
Jesse M.
Yos. Climbing Ranger
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gstock
climber
Yosemite Valley
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Oct 11, 2010 - 11:33pm PT
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There were three rock falls from this area today, the first around 11:30 am. This was a relatively small rock fall, but was followed about three minutes later by a much larger rock fall. A party two pitches up the Nose got some nice profile views and photos of this second fall.
A third smaller rock fall occurred at around 1 pm.
Comparison of photos taken before (xRez), during (Tom Evans), and after (G. Stock) the rock falls clearly show the source area. Below is a comparison showing the cliff before any of the recent rock falls on the left, and after on the right, with the source area circled in yellow - note that the photo locations and lighting are not exactly the same. About 20% of the total difference between these photos occurred during the intense rain last week (this was the rock fall alluded to in the thread on Sky and Andy's adventure in the waterfall), with the remaining 80% due to the rock falls today.
We were able to scan the cliff with a laser (LiDAR mapping) this evening, so I should be able to at least have accurate dimensions of the rock scar soon, but no doubt it was a large rock fall, probably the largest this year.
Greg
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Oct 11, 2010 - 11:51pm PT
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Damn.
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JesseM
Social climber
Yosemite
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Oct 12, 2010 - 12:27am PT
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Sorry Klaus, I got interrupted mid-post, and didn't read yours before I posted. Thanks for the good info, answers my questions.
Jesse
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Oct 12, 2010 - 12:29am PT
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i rapped in there and found a bunch of wires, a transmitter battery, and a couple of stress gauges stuck in a crack, weird, spooked me out, then i based into the meadow and got the best taze of my life,
hey, we like to kid around on the ST from time to time,
plus, i bought two copies of the g stock book,
hey, when was the loma prieta earthquake?
cuz this weather is weird,
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Oct 12, 2010 - 12:33am PT
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Does it seem suspcious to anyone else that the rockfall occurred on the 11th, and that on the 12th there will be a talk about rockfall? The conspiracy theories around here are beyond absurd, but this is a situation where the "correlation does not equate to causation" mantra bears mention.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Oct 12, 2010 - 12:34am PT
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i think we better call in klimmer for this one,
calling all klimmers, calling all klimmers,
come in, klimmers,
for the record, (not the conspiricy show on kfjc with dave emory), for the record, the LP earthquake was oct 17,
so get yo power bars ready,
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Oct 12, 2010 - 02:32am PT
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I can't imagine how scary that must have been up there.
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JOEY.F
Social climber
sebastopol
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Oct 12, 2010 - 03:23am PT
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^^^
Truely, the sound and vibration, must have been wicked.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Oct 12, 2010 - 01:13pm PT
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Jeremy got to see the big thing from the base, WOO HOO!!
eKat they're headed up on Space first I believe.
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Slakkey
Big Wall climber
From Back to Big Wall Baby
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Oct 12, 2010 - 01:18pm PT
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I think Skully is hanging with Gagner this week not sure if that is still the case but he sure was being covert as to what he was planning to climb. Andy H and partner are truly in the running for Hardcore Yosemite Climbers of the Year I think. If you recall they were getting hammered by the waterfall not that long ago. In this case Ahh whats a little rock fall they keep climbing. Bad to The Bone for sure.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Oct 12, 2010 - 01:25pm PT
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You should be there humping loads and you know it.
eKatBigStoneOldDadzDemeritPoints........
I don't know about Skully, but Jeremy is definitely there with Paul.
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Slakkey
Big Wall climber
From Back to Big Wall Baby
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Oct 12, 2010 - 01:37pm PT
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Yep Skully is there just not sure who or what he is climbing. He did mention at one time he might meet up with Paul but like I said not sure if that is still the case.
eKat yeah I missed him by a couple of weeks. That responsible Homeowner / business thing caught up with me as well. He really was / is excited about being back in The Valley
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McKenzie Long
climber
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Oct 12, 2010 - 03:01pm PT
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I was climbing on Middle Cathedral during the rockfall yesterday, and got this picture of the tail end of it.
I hope no one was climbing on the slabs below!
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ß Î Ř T Ç H
climber
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Oct 12, 2010 - 03:15pm PT
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McKenzie,
i hope you sold that to the fresno bee ---- nice shot!
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Oct 13, 2010 - 05:23am PT
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crazy klaus
I hope no one was climbing on the slabs below!
crazy thing is I've watched people spend all day climbing those super low angle slabs, and then saw rockfall right afterward.
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Luke Lydiard
Ice climber
CA
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Oct 13, 2010 - 09:24pm PT
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Another photo from Middle Cathedral.
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Oct 18, 2010 - 08:58pm PT
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Here are a few photos from last Thursday (10/14), before it rained. We were walking the base to look at rock types but decided to have a look at the rockfall area as well.
Greg Stock, heading towards the fresh talus
The rock scar from the base
Looking up at the rock scar from directly below
Fresh talus and mangled trees
Looking down the fresh talus slope, towards the Devil’s Elbow and El Cap Bridge
There was a layer of fresh sand that had accumulated right at the base of the wall. It appeared as though the sand had been blown loose by wind and then settled down the wall/slab
Looking towards the Nose from the fresh talus field
Another photo of the rock scar, as viewed from El Cap Bridge
The entire area was covered in rock dust although it has probably been washed away by now with the recent rain. While I was standing in the talus, we all heard a “POP” from above and I was running before I knew it! But only a few small rocks came down. Glad that those who were in the area when it cut loose are OK!
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Oct 27, 2010 - 04:22pm PT
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Mr. Rockfall, assessing a fresh mini-crater at the base of the NA Wall, 10/14/10
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Levy
Big Wall climber
So Cal
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Oct 27, 2010 - 05:24pm PT
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Nice post Jeremy!
I really dig the twilight/ solar eclipse effect as the dust rises & obscures the sun. Glad you guys didn't get the chop!
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Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
Transporter Room 2
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Oct 27, 2010 - 05:40pm PT
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I was prowling the Left Side when it happened(the bigger one), heard the roar, And saw the dust cloud come around the Nose.
A few days later, when we were up on Virginia & it rained, there was another rockfall(sounded big) in the night.
El Cap is a lively place.
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Gene
Social climber
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Oct 27, 2010 - 05:41pm PT
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That rockfall would have scared the crap outta me. Glad all came through OK!
g
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Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
Transporter Room 2
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Oct 27, 2010 - 05:57pm PT
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Great shots, all.
At least I got to see Minerals(IN the Valley,too!!) & meet Greg.
Very cool.
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throwpie
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Oct 27, 2010 - 07:42pm PT
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Rock slides are the Great Whites of climbing...always there...lurking... I remember climbing up on the cookie cliff slide not long after it happened. Snow white blocks and splintered trees. You could still smell the crushed pine. Awesome!
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Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
Transporter Room 2
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Oct 27, 2010 - 07:48pm PT
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Folks are already calling that one scar the Shark's Fin.
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Adamame
Big Wall climber
Santa Cruz
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Oct 29, 2010 - 07:55pm PT
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These shots were taken from the 3rd belay of the South Seas route. I had the camera close at hand after the first rockfall five minutes earlier and was ready for this one. Pretty spectacular rockfall and quite a location to see it from.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Oct 29, 2010 - 09:16pm PT
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It must have scared the crap out of anyone on Manure Pile - just down and around the corner.
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throwpie
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Oct 29, 2010 - 10:10pm PT
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I love the fourth shot where you can see boulders amid the dust...It would be cool to see some shots of the impact zone.
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Gagner
climber
Boulder
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Oct 29, 2010 - 11:26pm PT
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Awesome shots Adamame - I can see exactly where we were standing at the base of ZM in your first shot - and from that shot it looks like we were way too close - yikes.
BITD - probably '80 or '81 - Barbella and I were, um, tripping around at the base of what became the AO Wall. We cruised over to the base of the NA and no sooner had we walked over there than a HUGE rockfall came down off the lower part of El Cap Tree - obliterating where we had just been 10 minutes earlier. Guess it wasn't our time........
Paul
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Oct 30, 2010 - 12:55am PT
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Rockfall I observed from Yosemite Point on Oct 9. This rockfall had to come pretty close to the road.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Oct 30, 2010 - 01:13am PT
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Wow. That last post was in the area of Koko Ledge, where I learned to lead aid harder than A1. I climbed a lot there between 1970 and 1973. In 1973 we were on Koko Continuation's A4 travesre when a rock the size of an ice chest came crashing between my partner and me. He was hanging from smashies and rurps, and I was a t a sling belay, so neither of us could do much to dodge it.
Scary to think how unstable that wall was above us.
John
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Oct 30, 2010 - 06:14am PT
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Whoa is this the predicted rockfall for 11/11/10?
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T2
climber
Cardiff by the sea
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Oct 30, 2010 - 12:08pm PT
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Those pictures are killer adamame. Shows the power of what went down. I was on the 8th pitch of the trip when it cut loose what a thing to witness.
Glad no one got the chop.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Oct 30, 2010 - 12:59pm PT
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Imagine being on the Moratorium when that cut loose. Yikes!
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kaitb
Big Wall climber
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Ammon and I were climbing Bad Seed when the rockfall took place. After I realized that we were both spared, I pulled out the camera and shot this video. Someone already posted this on a different thread but I figured that it definitely belonged here as well.
http://vimeo.com/15927766
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MisterE
Social climber
Bouncy Tiggerville
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Holy shit! That video is freakin' scary!
Glad you guys are OK
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kaitb
Big Wall climber
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Thanks. We were glad to realize that we were going to be "ok" as well. Sorry for the shaking of the camera. It was an intense and scary moment for those first few seconds when we heard the rocks popping, cracking, and breaking loose.
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gstock
climber
Yosemite Valley
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Nov 17, 2010 - 11:18pm PT
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Just a quick note that this area was active again today (11.17.2010) with a medium-sized rock fall at about 3:15 pm.
Greg
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kaitb
Big Wall climber
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Nov 18, 2010 - 02:18pm PT
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Hey Greg
B Law was asking that I write up an account for the database about the rockfall events we experienced on El Cap 10-11-10. Is there an email address of yours I can send that to?
Kait
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gstock
climber
Yosemite Valley
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Nov 18, 2010 - 09:06pm PT
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Thanks Kait, that would be great.
greg_stock@nps.gov
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Nov 19, 2010 - 10:24pm PT
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At approximately 3:11 PM on Wednesday (11/17) I heard loud cracking and popping noises, followed shortly by loud “thud” noises (blocks bouncing off of a ledge). From just west of the Footstool, I looked across to see several planar blocks (refrigerator doors on steroids…) falling through space, and then heard the sound of the impact on the lower slab. There was a small dust cloud, but this event was nowhere near as large as the 10/11 event. There were no precursor noises from the rock scar area in the moments leading up to the rockfall. It was pretty cool to see the blocks in mid-flight. Nick was filming in the Footstool talus, just east of the Footstool and the guys on the wall must have had a nice view.
Here are a couple of photos for comparison:
(click on images for full versions)
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mpmoody
Mountain climber
Alamo
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Aug 18, 2013 - 04:35pm PT
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My son was on the nose route on El Cap that day. He survived that rockfall and a few other close calls in Yosemite, but sadly passed away this week in a plane crash working for PGE in Chico - doing a job he loved. He was 26 and inspired me to climb the Snake Dike Route on Half Dome at age 59, one of the highlights of my life. Here's a picture he took - a self portrait with the rockfall in the background.
My Snake Dike trip report is here;
http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Snake-Dike-May-13-2013/t11968n.html
mpmoody
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OR
Trad climber
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Aug 18, 2013 - 05:09pm PT
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mpmoody. So sorry for your loss. A beautiful and adventuresome life you son led. Nice TR of Snake Dike.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Aug 18, 2013 - 06:34pm PT
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Wow, I'm so sorry for your loss! How tragic.
I *sure* wish I had seen this post before I attempted to solo the Waterfall Route this spring! For your information, the current state of affairs is exactly as Klaus has described above, and the Waterfall Route is unclimbable.
Here's my trip report:
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=2166767&tn=74
I was completely lost up there, and had no idea why I couldn't find the route. Answer: the route is now lying at the base of the wall. Sheesh.
I am also wondering if more rockfall has occurred in this area since the first fall? By my observation, the fifth belay of Waterfall Route has been obliterated. It used to be on the ledge straight left of the fifth belay on Klaus' route Get Whacked.
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