Ahwiyah Point rockfall

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hoipolloi

climber

A friends backyard with the neighbors wifi

Mar 30, 2009 - 05:12pm PT

Hey Guys! Pretty Excited because my buddy and I were up on The Column when this happened! I got to see it first hand. It was totally spectacular and really massive!

It first woke me up while sleeping on dinner in the middle of the night, early morning hours. I woke up to hear some rock fall, jerked awake and looked around quickly spotting the rock fall. The first time it woke me up it was a pretty large fall coming down the side, the sparks at the lead end of the smoke cloud were what really blew me away. After it hit the floor I looked around a while then fell asleep.

This process went on for what seemed like all night. I kept waking up to small-ish falls coming down in a similar fashion. Then at the pre-dawn hours I woke to a HUGE cannon fodder of a boom, jerked up, looked over to see the entire side of Ahwiyah point shrouded in a massive dust cloud falling down, the lead end looked like a massive fireworks show. When it slammed into the floor it crashed down into a huge ploom of dust that went upwards nad pushed out all the way across the valley floor.

It was pretty amazing. I am stoked to have been able to see it (and fire Southern Man). Thanks for the info Greg.

cheers

scuffy b

climber

4 to 8

Mar 30, 2009 - 05:58pm PT

What a seat for a show like that.

ron gomez

Trad climber

fallbrook,ca

Mar 30, 2009 - 06:08pm PT

A sight only a climber could see! Cool, how lucky to see that while on the rock. Looks like a BIG slide in the photo.
Peace

Brendan

Trad climber

Yosemite, CA

Mar 30, 2009 - 07:59pm PT

Apparently, the fireworks/sparks that we all got to see that next night (after the first big fall) were caused when quartzite crystals rub against other quartz crystals, it causes electrons to be exchanged and create a potential difference. Exactly like lightning, the electrons jump from one quartz crystal to another and cause a "fireworks" effect as all the rocks tumble down. Totally cool to see, all be it a little unnerving to wake up to in the middle of the night on dinner ledge.

Mighty Hiker

Social climber

Vancouver, B.C.

Mar 30, 2009 - 08:16pm PT

Was this one of the areas that has been photographed at high resolution, and if so, what does it show?

Sounds like a new type of bouldering may be possible there - high objective hazard stuff.

Oplopanax

Mountain climber

The Deep Woods

Mar 30, 2009 - 08:57pm PT

Some of the fireworks you see are just from friction heat. I have seen fresh landslide debris from a large rock avalanche in rhyolite that had heated individual grains enough to form an obsidian rind about 2mm thick on each clast. Likewise, the Barrier rockslide near Whister in the 1850's got hot enough to ignite a forest fire where the debris came to rest.

Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber

Sprocketville

Mar 30, 2009 - 09:11pm PT

What's the Terminal Velocity vs Size chart like?
Could a large chunk break the sound barrier?
Knockin over trees, but lots of trees dying, ready to go over in a good wind.

corniss chopper

Mountain climber

san jose, ca

Mar 30, 2009 - 09:18pm PT

do I have to walk up there to see the blast area or will someone post a pic. Tough weekend. Legs are tired.

Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber

Sprocketville

Mar 30, 2009 - 09:24pm PT

it has been windy, i bet if that J Tree kite guy let out enuff line, the chaz man or whatever his name is...

cleo

Social climber

Berkeley, CA

Mar 30, 2009 - 11:10pm PT

nice eyewitness reports - keep 'em up

(and nice climb too :)

cliffclimber

Trad climber

salem, ma

Mar 31, 2009 - 02:03am PT

I was in North Pines and heard a huge rockfall from that exact area that occurred at approximately 12:15 am. I heard the initial crack, but the massive fall didn't happen until a few minutes later. Afterward I checked my cell phone and it was 12:22. There was third round 2-3 minutes later. The time that earthquake report attached here obviously contradicts what I'm saying. I'd like to see the report from the fall I heard. It was, unquestionably, significant.

le_bruce

climber

Oakland: what's not to love?

Mar 31, 2009 - 02:13am PT

Jealous of you Column parties. That is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Lucky dogs!

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Mar 31, 2009 - 04:30am PT

Uh, some of you think that the event was coolaboola, but I dunna know. It seems to me that climbing can be extreeeeemmely dangerous, what with huge rockfalls crushing our tiny skulls.

I have been having a rethink here and then had a Pauline conversion. I am switching from rock climbing to milking cobras' and mojave greens' venom - I'll stay away from the tigers and taipans, mambas too. And those kraits.

corniss chopper

Mountain climber

san jose, ca

Mar 31, 2009 - 12:52pm PT

before and after pic of the rockfall in Tenaya canyon
below Half Dome.

Reilly

Mountain climber

Monrovia, CA

Mar 31, 2009 - 12:56pm PT

I hope they re-cycle the timber downed.

corniss chopper

Mountain climber

san jose, ca

Mar 31, 2009 - 01:10pm PT

As a wilderness area no logging is allowed. Looks like many of the trees are buried under the slide anyway and too splintered for
anything but fungus and mold habitat.

Reilly

Mountain climber

Monrovia, CA

Mar 31, 2009 - 01:12pm PT

I was being facetious although I hope the irony of Curry's proximity is not lost. I love the sound of honking car horns in the wilderness, almost as good as napalm in the morning.