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Caveman
climber
Cumberland Plateau
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Yer gonna Die!
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j-tree
Big Wall climber
Typewriters and Ledges
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WTF did I just read, Oh man, this whole article is worth the quote. What a ridiculous load of crap. And more importantly, this looks like the kind of MAGA cut-out-the-gubmnt-middleman attempt. Drown government in a bathtub then call Redpoint to rescue?:
Redpoint rescues climber from potential hypothermia on a rock face in Yosemite
Posted on November 8, 2017 John Moretti
‘Their speed amazed us’
By Murray “Murf” Clark
I’d like to thank Redpoint Resolutions. My family and I are very grateful for their recent rescue of my son from a situation that could have ended much differently without their skilled, professional efforts.
The day after his 24th birthday, my son—with a 20-year-old climbing partner—attempted to summit Half Dome in Yosemite National Park via the Regular Northwest Face, a famous climbing route up 2000 feet of granite on one of the most recognizable rock formations in the world. They thought they were prepared—with knowledge of the route and the proper equipment. They thought they had enough food and water. They expected to complete the climb in the span of one day from pre-dawn until sunset, though neither had climbed the route before. They assumed a “Big Wall” would simply be a longer version of other climbs they had previously completed. They assumed a correct weather forecast, the worst of which was a chance of light rain. They assumed their descent, down the “easier” cable route (with the cable down for the winter), in the dark, would be well within their capabilities, though neither had been on that 9-mile route before either. They were wrong.
My wife and I awoke in Kansas to read hours-old texts from our stranded climber.
John’s climbing partner on the wall
We asked for an update and eventually received nervous replies reporting his situation and asking for help. The Yosemite National Park Service website urged us to dial 9-1-1, but we quickly realized dialing 9-1-1 in Kansas would not yield help in California. When we did reach Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) through a dispatch number, we were reassured they would monitor the situation and were already in touch—through cell phone—with our young men on the wall. I spoke directly throughout the day with two YOSAR commanders who were in fact monitoring the situation through a spotting scope from the valley floor. They even called me to offer updates on our climbers’ progress after John and his partner had begun to inch up the wall in mid afternoon. They predicted our climbers would not summit before dark. They had informed the exhausted, cold climbers of a “cave”—a small wedge in the rock—in which they might bivouac a second night. John and his partner had been on the wall for over 36 hours by then.
The temperature forecast for that night—for the valley floor—was 21 degrees Fahrenheit. We knew it would be colder 4000 feet higher. When the human body is exposed to constant moisture at temperatures under 50 degrees, fatal hypothermia is a potential outcome. We knew we couldn’t wait. Through a network of friends, we found Redpoint Resolutions. From our first contact, communication was constant, candid, and clear. We explained the situation. They gave blunt, matter-of-fact advice. Even before we said, “go,” Redpoint was gathering information and the best available resources. Not much later, when we did say “please go,” we learned that the first movements to help were already in motion. Experts were already near—and then in the park—and then quickly moving up Half Dome. Their speed amazed us. Without hesitation, Redpoint added more family members—John’s older sister and her husband in Boston—to a messaging group they had created for us. We shared information both ways, and felt reassured that we had made the right decision to ask Redpoint for help.
First light on the wall
As darkness approached Half Dome and our son’s cell phone went to 0%, his rescuers were in place. They had reached the summit with almost unbelievable speed. He would not spend another night on Half Dome. The Redpoint team lowered two 70-meter ropes—one to ascend and one for extra safety—and belayed John and his partner through thin air and directly up and over the lip of “The Visor” on the edge of Half Dome.
Dry clothes, food, and hot drinks were ready for them at the top. The team guided them down the still-treacherous cable route. His rescuers, with deep knowledge of the park, knew where to find a well-hidden spring for extra water on the trail back to the valley. I had flown and driven from Kansas to arrive at Yosemite Valley. By 3:00 a.m. I was face-to-face with my son and had thanked his humble rescuers.
Redpoint’s services for this sort of emergency are available to its Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance policy holders.
In his radio address on Armed Forces Day in 1982, President Reagan re-asked the question written by James Michener in his novel The Bridges at Toko-Ri, “Where do we find such men?” Our president gave his answer: “Well, we find them where we’ve always found them. They are the product of the freest society man has ever known.” He was referring to the military. I would argue that Redpoint Resolutions is another place to find such men: men with skills, dedication, and professionalism. Men with the strength, courage, and knowledge to do whatever needs to be done. Sheepdogs who protect the flock and take calculated risks to keep us safe from wolves. Three men from Redpoint [plus the vigilant men and women at Redpoint Operations’ command center] removed the possibility of a worst case for my son, but my respect goes beyond gratitude for their actions. I am simply glad to know such men are out there—in the dark and cold if necessary—to answer calls for help.
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines the best medevac and rescue insurance with travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, lost baggage, primary medical expense coverages, and more. Ripcord is powered by Redpoint Resolutions, a medical and travel risk security company owned and operated by special operations veterans and physicians.
Redpoint covers almost 10 million people worldwide and has evacuated clients from all seven continents.
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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hunh?
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looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
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Idea-I'm going to get 1 pitch up The Nose, call these guys, then spray about how I Redpointed El Cap.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Perfect business plan for the new paradigm of Extreme Tourism.
Which one of us will be the first to set up a company offering Big Wall Glamping?
The rich parents having their kids rescued when they wimp out due to not properyly paying thier dues is a hoot!
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Texplorer
Trad climber
Sacramento
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Wonder how much they paid a few camp 4 dirtbags to hike halfdome and lower two ropes to the trustfunders.
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martygarrison
Trad climber
Washington DC
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The first time I climbed Half Dome we got hammered by an snow storm near the top of the route. I bivied in that "cave" on big sandy. It's really just a slot with a extremely slopping floor. Lousy night.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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We got 3" on Big Sandy and it snowed so heavily the next day you could only see a few yards at times. A good 4" on Thank God made it fun. For a couple of goombahs from the PNW it
was no big deal.
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enjoimx
Trad climber
Yosemite
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I blame the party requesting the rescue. Complete idiots who shouldn't be climbing.
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D Murph
climber
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How do you know the kid's parents didn't just panic? He may not have even wanted a rescue (sounds like they were still trying to climb up instead of bail).
Warren Harding needed rescuing from a storm on Half Dome (a different route and a first ascent admittedly). Was he an idiot that shouldn't be climbing?
I've got no horse in this race, but it seems like y'all are getting a little worked up over what's probably just advertising. I'm very interested in Werner's take.
As an aside, I clicked on the website and filled out the price quote: next Friday through Monday, Medical Evacuation and Rescue insurance in the US for a 24 year old costs.....wait for it.... $115. If you wanted, again just Medical Evacuation and Rescue insurance (no travel insurance) to spend next April in Nepal it would be .... $225. Kind of seems like their website must be broken, no?
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BigB
Trad climber
Red Rock
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my guess is they didn't really need a rescue... hence nps just watching thru a scope and not acting...the rest of the story is.. "I'm scared and don't like this anymore and want to come down mommy"
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Men with the strength, courage, and knowledge to do whatever needs to be done.
"Yeah, I'm going to need you to tell your parents that everything is fine and for future adventures, just make sure you add a day or two of padding for when they expect you back."
I guess they didn't have *that* much strength and courage, because it sounds like that is what needed to be done.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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wow, what a sh#t show of a write up... Implying YOSAR wasn't on the ball.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Re. Murray “Murf” Clark's letter and
“Where do we find such men?” Our president gave his answer: “Well, we find them where we’ve always found them. They are the product of the freest society man has ever known.” He was referring to the military.
the Dad, who called for rescue. is a former Air Force Colonel...
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Anyone here on retainer?
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 9, 2017 - 05:39pm PT
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I can relate to worried parents. This is a shot of me and a buddy during a early kayak descent of Sespe Creek in Ventura County. Its 35 miles of wilderness class 5 kayaking. We took a little longer than we thought and my dad got worried and decided to fly in to check on us. We were fine but he just had to be sure.
This would not be the last time I had involvement with helicopters and Sespe Creek.
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rwedgee
Ice climber
CA
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When did this allegedly take place ?
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 9, 2017 - 05:50pm PT
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No date given in the article.
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