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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 20, 2015 - 12:35pm PT
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Squamish chief, Zodiac Wall
From way higher up, massive block realized and rotated out from the face. I could see debris at the toe of the block ravelling off, sensing something big was about to happen. The sound was incredible. Anybody who has climbed Angel's Crest knows that the sound echos off across the North Gully and the North Walls. At first I saw the base of the block moving and dust clouds forming. I've watched more than my share of rock fall and landslide videos through school and work and for fun, but this was a first experience for me.
It was hard to judge how close it was to me. The view of the mountains was momentarily blocked by the free-falling granite. There was no rotation, just one monster chunk of granite aimed straight down. I looked up and Mark, jaw-dropped and speechless. Once the block hit the forest below, a huge plume of rock dust engulfed the area below. The volume of rock is estimated at 1000-5000 cubic metres. I couldn't see the parties below at this point but hoped that they were ok.
Richard So
http://richso.blogspot.ca/2015/04/angels-crest-and-zodiac-wall-rockfall.html
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Apr 20, 2015 - 02:50pm PT
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Wow, big ol' chunk along with hug trees growing on the chunk!
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Apr 20, 2015 - 04:14pm PT
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Huh? What took the dive?
And any bets on who gets the LA of boot flake?
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Apr 20, 2015 - 04:33pm PT
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hey there say, Big Mike... oh my, thanks for sharing... whewww....
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 21, 2015 - 12:05am PT
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John- just a huge chunk right of "The Calling"... Note the brown scar
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Apr 21, 2015 - 05:39am PT
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Hey cosmic, what happened to your 'The One And Only Off Topic Yada Yada?
Gone as gone as them woodzes,
I am glad that we are not all shook to the very core by how close a call all this is/was.
The open window of rock climbing has no shutters
and when a rock falls from a cliff face It now is witnessed - by all!
We know the folds of rock like the blankets on our bed ,or the backs of our hands.
if deforestation is the least of the devastation, then ,
Like, WHEW Man That was close I am so glad blah blah blah,
_ this time. ( that should read _ _ _expletive deleted, . . .. ..this time!)
Rock climbing is a far cry from the Gym, . . . .Just saying . . . !
this is a second try at this and the first was, tung in cheek, wry and whitey,
this is crap ,
still cosmic see that Godzilla sighting thing I was up but things here
have been getting' dropped , not posting in the order ,
hence the stop and hold it while i try and spell
Write ,Rite, Right?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 21, 2015 - 11:37am PT
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For those of us who have had Geologic Encounters Of The First Hand
I think I am unanimous in opining:
"Don't crush me, brah!"
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Apr 21, 2015 - 12:06pm PT
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DON'T CRUSH THE DWARF HAND ME THE PLIERS
- TO -
CRUSH THE GNOME DON"T HAND HIM THE RACK> Gnome tools needed
to get those climbs back
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Apr 21, 2015 - 12:08pm PT
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Tami and johntp, it looks like we think alike. I'd always wanted to make a last ascent.
John
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 21, 2015 - 12:13pm PT
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Tami- I bet Chilkoot Pass never got a second. I'm pretty sure Maddaloni put it up..
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Apr 21, 2015 - 12:49pm PT
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Brownie points for Richard So on this.
Everyone should be so lucky as to avoid such a demonstration of gravity's power.
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Apr 21, 2015 - 12:57pm PT
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I have trundled bigger blocks.
Meh.
LOL! Fuggin big one! That dude in the photos just figured out what "temporary" means in the grand scope of climbing.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Apr 21, 2015 - 01:03pm PT
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Looks like there were a buncha trees living on top of that block....crazy!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 21, 2015 - 01:09pm PT
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Yup.. This should give you a better sense of scale..
Angel's Crest (where Richard was climbing) takes the left ridge of the Sheriff's Badge which is the formation on the right.
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Grippa
Trad climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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Apr 21, 2015 - 04:14pm PT
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My buddy sent me iphone footy of the fall from the apron via south arete, truly amazing footage. I guess he had homies that were on Angels Crest who were blown away (literally and figuratively), but were unharmed in the event. AMAZING as I've been in those woods before, and those trees are freaking huge. But obviously the entire approach to angels crest/sheriffs badge was atop a partially buried talus field filled in with tree fall and other detritus. All of you who witnessed it live are lucky!
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Apr 21, 2015 - 04:17pm PT
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I wonder, "Will someone say something Canadian?"
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 21, 2015 - 05:00pm PT
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Ya Dwain.. There's some toothpicks up there for sure.
EH!
;)
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 21, 2015 - 07:06pm PT
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Greg- can you ask your buddy if his friends on angels happened to get any footy? The lowest party of three that got dusted had a member with a gopro.
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c wilmot
climber
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Apr 21, 2015 - 08:23pm PT
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Best to stay out of that debris field for a while. Not only is it spring when rockfall is more common- but after such a recent large fall it is common for more debris to come down for months even years after. Even if nothing major more comes down small rockfall will likely be common for a while till things re settle
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 21, 2015 - 09:12pm PT
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Best to stay out of that debris field for a while.
Ya that area is closed till further notice. A friend sent me a couple pics today.
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