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crankster
Trad climber
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Aug 18, 2014 - 03:50pm PT
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Ughh..tragic. Condolences to family & friends.
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snowhazed
Trad climber
Oaksterdam, CA
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Aug 18, 2014 - 03:57pm PT
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Thanks Clint- 6 is still such a wonderfully small number, but now 2 in the high country within a few years of each other.
Wow- timing- he had just proposed.....
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Stewart Johnson
climber
lake forest
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Aug 18, 2014 - 06:18pm PT
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Rest in peace brother .
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Sebastopol
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Aug 18, 2014 - 06:50pm PT
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I'm crushed by the loss of my close friend. We had plans for evolution next week.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Aug 18, 2014 - 07:00pm PT
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Sorry for your loss.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Aug 18, 2014 - 07:10pm PT
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I'm so sorry Jerry.
And to all who knew him best.
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CCT
Trad climber
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Aug 18, 2014 - 07:50pm PT
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So sorry to hear about this. Condolences on your loss.
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Stevee B
Trad climber
Oakland, CA
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Aug 18, 2014 - 07:55pm PT
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This is dreadful. And the engagement...my heart aches for your loss. So sorry to those of you who knew him.
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surfstar
climber
Santa Barbara, CA
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Aug 18, 2014 - 09:18pm PT
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My sincere condolences to Brad's girlfriend. We cannot imagine what she is going through.
I've always hoped I wouldn't be one to report on an accident, but know that information is always appreciated. It is interesting to hear input from other climbers [Cedric Ma] that were on the ridge.
My partner and I had rapped from the North Summit, joining ropes with three ladies from Canada that had climbed in front of us, for the last rappel. It was just after 5pm when I got down. After everyone else rapped, we snacked and packed up, said our good-byes (they were camping nearby) then started the descent/hike out.
A few minutes later my partner and I heard a noise; I immediately thought someone was yelling “rock”, as that is what always pops in my head first when under a route. We looked up and saw a climber falling. I can't even remember what I uttered as it registered in my head. I'd guess it was from about 100 yards north of the North Summit and they stopped not much more than 50y from where we were. One of the Canadians activated their Spot beacon and we called up to climbers near the notch (mid-pitch it seemed) to call SAR if they had a phone – they would as soon as they topped out the North Summit. We figured that there was nothing that could be done, but had to make sure. My partner was closer, and as we hiked over, I (I'm still not sure how I feel about this), asked him if only one of us need to check to verify; if there was nothing that could be done. He obliged and confirmed.
We talked with the Canadian who activated the Spot and was a paramedic, for a few minutes, and then decided to start our hike out as we would be the first to provide contact in case the Spot or phone call did not go through. I believe they planned to wait nearby until confirmation that a phone call had gone through, before they would hike to camp.
Of course thoughts and scenarios ran through our heads, mostly assuming a broken hold, on our hike out; along with lamenting a tragedy on such a great day in a beautiful setting.
We ran into two SAR members, not 5 mins from the car and gave our witness statements. It broke our hearts when Brad's girlfriend came up the trail, mere seconds after we encountered SAR. I do not believe anything was confirmed with her that night, and we couldn't be 100% sure either, but knew the most likely conclusion.
As with all of these tragedies, it sounds like he was a well-loved guy and will surely be missed. We truly feel for the loss his family, friends and girlfriend now face.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
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Aug 18, 2014 - 09:39pm PT
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We had plans for evolution next week. there was a soloist suffering from acute AMS on Cathedral Peak (and asking people for water, nausea, out of it) on Saturday as well. This was early afternoon from what I recall. Not sure if the same guy He said he was dehydrated and had cramps and asked us if we were rapping down from the notch (we were continuing to the north summit). After that, he continued to solo up the north summit Sounds like the dude was preparing for Evolution Traverse, and got in way over his head. Hindsight is 20/20, but it seems like whoever saw him up there should have dropped their own itinerary, intervened, and helped him back to camp.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
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Aug 18, 2014 - 09:44pm PT
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Ok, seemed like too much of a coincidence. Thanks.
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The Wedge
Boulder climber
Estes Park, CO
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Aug 18, 2014 - 09:59pm PT
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Thanks for the info Surfstar and Supetopo. Brad was close to me. I personally needed more info on the circumstances and scene and for my to start me closure. I knew Brad Parker as "Brad Pitt" because he use to work as the camground host at the PIt Campground in Bishop. I spent too many days climbing with Brad from my days off guiding. I later moved from Bishop to Santa Rosa, and meet back up with Brad at Vertex Climbing Center for a year, before our ways parted again. Many of us lost a friend and climbing partner today.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 18, 2014 - 10:24pm PT
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hey there say, to the girl friend...
wishing for some deep comfort for you, and
may someone be there, for each turn of the way, when
you need it, at this sad and awful time...
will sure keep you in my prayers...
:(
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JOEY.F
Gym climber
It's not rocket surgery
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Aug 18, 2014 - 11:12pm PT
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Very sad news. Difficult to process a familiar face to this. To Brads family and friends, please accept my condolences.
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Cedric Ma
Mountain climber
San Diego, CA
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Aug 19, 2014 - 09:17am PT
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Here is the last shot I took from the south summit just an hour before the accident. I believe this is surfstar's party and the Canadians were rappelling off the rope visible in this picture. There is another party behind the north summit continuing their traverse north.
Hindsight is 20/20, but it seems like whoever saw him up there should have dropped their own itinerary, intervened, and helped him back to camp.
We were a little concerned about his safety as he passed, mainly because it's getting late in the day and the crux of the route is coming up (followed by a 5.8 downclimb on the other side). Despite his stated conditions, there was nothing in his movements or words that indicated any distress or else we would have offered to rig him a harness and a rappel down from the notch.
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland, CA
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Aug 19, 2014 - 11:27am PT
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Wishing Brad's family and friends, and Brad's fiancee, peace and strength. It's as Stevee B says above.
The thought of Brad's fiancee at the trailhead as Surfstar describes is raw, heartbreaking. I try to put myself in her place and cannot begin to fathom it.
Rest in peace.
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Tommy D
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Ca
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Aug 19, 2014 - 01:00pm PT
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Brad was a member at Pacific Edge for several years. Super positive and friendly fellow. My heart goes out to his fiance, his family, and all those close to him. (Brad had proposed to his sweetie on the summit of Cathedral just hours before the accident). Too many good folks are stepping off the bus these days. Let's stay focused out there my friends! Peace.
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kenr99
climber
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Aug 19, 2014 - 03:30pm PT
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Matt's wrote:
> there is the option of downclimbing right there at the notch
I did not know that. I have not seen it written in any guidebook or web page.
Just three weeks ago, after making it down the first highest double-rope rappel off the North Summit, I thought I would try down-climbing from that lower point. After about ten minutes one key section seemed too sketchy (especially with loose rock), so I returned to the rappel station tree and joined the others in a second rappel.
Maybe if I'd tried down-climbing farther south closer to the notch, I might have found sounder rock? more positive holds?
Anyway sounds like this potential non-rope escape was not well known to the climber or to others present on that Saturday afternoon.
Ken
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
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Aug 19, 2014 - 04:47pm PT
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This sucks. Maybe it's just summer and that's when climbers die more often but it seems like there's a lot of this going on at the moment.
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