Maroon Bells Rescue
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Please be respectful when posting - family and friends of fallen climbers might be reading this forum.
Please be respectful when posting - family and friends of fallen climbers might be reading this forum.
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nquesnel
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
Why were they in the Bell Cord couloir at 6 pm? 
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justiner
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
Knowing nothing of the situation in any detail (and thinking I should keep my big mouth shut), perhaps they were between the two summits and thought, "we're tired, let's just go down this" ala Capitol "shortcut"
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christian349
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
This would make sense, as it mentions in the article that they didn't know the terrain thus got stuck. Glad they are safe, but definitely questionable decision making so late in the day.justiner wrote:Knowing nothing of the situation in any detail (and thinking I should keep my big mouth shut), perhaps they were between the two summits and thought, "we're tired, let's just go down this" ala Capitol "shortcut"
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CHWitte
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
Glad they are safe but yet another Black Hawk helicopter rescue...
David R. Witte
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CO 14er Finisher: July 2015
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Mtnman200
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office found out about the situation at 6 PM. It could have taken them quite a while to get the word.rijaca wrote:Why were they in the Bell Cord couloir at 6 pm?
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BillMiddlebrook
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
We were on Maroon Peak (only) yesterday and on our descent we saw 3 climbers who were a bit off-route while climbing Maroon Peak, near the “2 Gullies” section, so we helped them get back on track.
That was at 11:15 on our descent and I’m guessing it was them. Glad they are ok!
That was at 11:15 on our descent and I’m guessing it was them. Glad they are ok!
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Eli Boardman
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
Non-life-threatening injuries, unable to go up or down; how did they get in this situation? And with 3 people, no one had the sense or knowledge to avoid this scenario? Basing off this preliminary info, I hope they at least pay financially for what sounds like irresponsible stupidity.
We're getting one of these threads every day, it seems like. Maybe if SAR started charging for non-life-threatening evacs, people would start taking a little more responsibility for their actions in the mountains.
Edit to clarify my negative remarks above are on the pretense that the article is true and mostly complete, and to state I would reconsider my reaction with more/different info.
We're getting one of these threads every day, it seems like. Maybe if SAR started charging for non-life-threatening evacs, people would start taking a little more responsibility for their actions in the mountains.
Edit to clarify my negative remarks above are on the pretense that the article is true and mostly complete, and to state I would reconsider my reaction with more/different info.
Last edited by Eli Boardman on Fri Jul 20, 2018 4:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
That's often exactly how that kind of decision making happens... so much easier to make mistakes when fatigue is part of the equation.christian349 wrote: definitely questionable decision making so late in the day.
Very glad this situation had a good outcome.
"The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need – if only we had the eyes to see." -Ed Abbey
"I get scared sometimes—lots of times—but it's not bad. You know? I feel close to myself. When I'm out there at night, I feel close to my own body, I can feel my blood moving, my skin and my fingernails, everything, it's like I'm full of electricity and I'm glowing in the dark—I'm on fire almost—I'm burning away into nothing—but it doesn't matter because I know exactly who I am." from The Things They Carried
"I get scared sometimes—lots of times—but it's not bad. You know? I feel close to myself. When I'm out there at night, I feel close to my own body, I can feel my blood moving, my skin and my fingernails, everything, it's like I'm full of electricity and I'm glowing in the dark—I'm on fire almost—I'm burning away into nothing—but it doesn't matter because I know exactly who I am." from The Things They Carried
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viejo
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
Seems like a propensity for some folks to disparage and criticize based on a few, likely incomplete, lines from a news item.
So is it possible that one of the party inadvertently fell onto the Bell Chord while crossing the ridge? Wouldn't be the first time that has happened.
And if so, did his partners try to get to him to provide aide?
Were the non-life threatening injuries still bad enough to prevent the climber from self extracting? Or once on the Chord, if it was a fall, could they then not safely get off?
So without knowing actual details of the incident, why feel the need for uninformed commentary?
So is it possible that one of the party inadvertently fell onto the Bell Chord while crossing the ridge? Wouldn't be the first time that has happened.
And if so, did his partners try to get to him to provide aide?
Were the non-life threatening injuries still bad enough to prevent the climber from self extracting? Or once on the Chord, if it was a fall, could they then not safely get off?
So without knowing actual details of the incident, why feel the need for uninformed commentary?
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highpilgrim
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
People always keep their quick draw pitchforks ready.viejo wrote:So without knowing actual details of the incident, why feel the need for uninformed commentary?
Sad, but true.
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
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Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
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justiner
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Re: Maroon Bells Rescue
Because it's useful to talk about what will happen and what could be done differently in an attempt to share information on how we all can then avoid the same situation. We'll never have all the details and just like any emergency, we may have to act in the future with to perhaps save a life with incomplete information.viejo wrote:So without knowing actual details of the incident, why feel the need for uninformed commentary?
SAR missions like this are dangerous, and helicopter teams have lost their lives trying to save those in trouble. As a community, it's a good thing to try to mitigate the need of their assistance.
SO ANYWAYS, I think it's fine to ask how this could possibly happen, and you seem to have joined in that discussion:
Yup, worth a discussion!viejo wrote:So is it possible that one of the party inadvertently fell onto the Bell Chord while crossing the ridge? Wouldn't be the first time that has happened.
And if so, did his partners try to get to him to provide aide?
Were the non-life threatening injuries still bad enough to prevent the climber from self extracting? Or once on the Chord, if it was a fall, could they then not safely get off?
