*** Injured Climber Rescued from Tuolumne, California ***

Mon Jun 10 12:09:10 1996
From: Dingus Milktoast
Address : crharris@ix.netcom.com
Subject : Re: Accident in Tuolumne

David Hill <dfhill@ce.berkeley.edu> writes:

> After a few minutes, we realized that the half dozen people at the base
> of west country were rescue personnel and that they were attempting
> to lower off a woman in a litter. The facts that I heard were that the
> woman was leading a pitch, decided to back off, and lowered off of a
> single piece (of protection), which promptly pulled. In the ensuing fall,
> she received a sizable cut on her head and was rendered unconscious for
> half an hour.
>
> the rescue seemed to proceeding very slowly, and bolts were being
> placed by hand in order to lower the litter, so we traversed in above
> the rescue and climbed the route. Upon getting back to the ground,
> the rescue was just wrapping up.
>
> The point is that the rescue took 3 hours or so to effect, highlighting
> the fact that one should not plan on the park service for a life
> saving rescue.

One should not plan on a rescue at all!

> additionally, the dangers of relying on a single piece of gear and
> not wearing a helmet were demonstrated.

Without a doubt. You didn't mention it, but I wonder what route she was on.
I'm guessing West Country. This routes is often touted as a beginners
route, but in it's original configuration, sported a 100 foot runnout over
a death fall. While straight forward, it is not a beginner's climb.
I believe people have died on this "trivial" 5.7.

Dingus Milktoast

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