Bishop's Terrace is an OK route. I took a friend who had never climbed before up it while he was frying on acid - he did it and thought it was REALLY good.
Kevin, did he think the climb was real good or the acid. ;-)
Or both?
Regarding the rockfall, perhaps there is some new boulders/bouldering. Anyway, glad nobody got hurt.
FYI there was another report of a CB rockfall yesterday afternoon. I also hear small rocks coming down in the impact area when I went over to take a look.
FYI there was another report of a CB rockfall yesterday afternoon. I also hear small rocks coming down in the impact area when I went over to take a look.
Seriously?
That blows. I really do want to climb it some time in the next month, or two if this crap continues.
Is anyone going to go up and survey those loose looking blocks? Or do we just wait until nature takes its course and they eventually fall?
Maybe Yosemite can borrow techniques from Snowbird Ski Resort
Probably something more appropriate for the evil parallel universe where Yosemite is privately owned & run as a rock climbing park by Dick Bass ;-)
When I taught skiing there I heard from the ski patrol that for some of their avvy control runs they'd just toss the explosives from the aerial tram on the way up. I wonder if they were jerking my leg on that one . . .
As the noted Science Fiction author Robert Heinlein remarked about surviving a nuclear explosion, which applies equally to rockfall: Don't be there when it goes off...
I imagine this area is being formally closed not just due to the rockfall, but the overall risk? i.e. how close it is to many unaware tourists & casual climbers who might be unaware of the hazard while hangfire is still likely to come down?
Just curious, but did YNP close the death slabs approach for a period after this little rockfall?
We have been monitoring the rock-fall source area above Church Bowl, and there do not appear to have been any new rock falls following the intial two events (the rock fall reported on April 11 seems to have originated from another location). Furthermore, a recent substantial winter storm with rain and snow, followed by warm temperatures, has so far failed to trigger any addditional rock falls. During my recent visit to the impact area there was no more small debris falling.
This suggests that the rock-fall source area is relatively stable and that the level of hazard posed is similar to "background", i.e., the hazard level that always exists below cliffs in Yosemite Valley. As a result, the temporary closure of the Bishop's Terrace area has been lifted.
Please - please - note that this does not mean that future rock falls are not possible. Although we are actively researching rock falls, predicting them is extremely challenging at this time. There will always be some degree of rock-fall related risk, and this is particularly true for climbers who frequent cliffs and talus slopes. The National Park Service strives to take reasonable measures to ensure public safety but cannot guarantee a risk-free environment in a dynamic natural setting such as Yosemite Valley. I will do my best to provide up-to-date information on rock falls and rock-fall related hazards as they affect climbers, but ultimately individual judgement and discretion is required.
Thanks and safe climbing!
Greg Stock
Park Geologist
(209) 379-1420
greg_stock@nps.gov
Let us know!