Terminal_Gravity Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 When you take another step on a snow field, you feel your self drop maybe two inches, and every thing gets quite again. I find it especially exciting when a long crack/seam forms aways above you. But it's the whumph that really gets my adraniline surgeing. After a couple of those whumps I usually feel really, really motivated...to turn tail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 that's some scary stuff. I've only felt it on flat ground before, fortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminal_Gravity Posted April 14, 2003 Author Share Posted April 14, 2003 Yeah, when it happened yesterday I was on about a 20 degree slope, heading up to a 35. The ski down was nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelle Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 It's the "ping" when on a camhook, with another one below ya that gets to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montana_Climber Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Or the "crack" of a serac falling while navigating through an icefall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottP Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 That whirring noise rocks and ice make when they are falling through space, especially when accompanied by a panicked scream of "ROCK!!!" coming from somewhere above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texplorer Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 ScottP - I tense at the thought of that whirring noise. Â Also that thudding sound of a cam popping out accompanied by a continued movement in a downward vector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 sometimes followed by the low thwumpthwumpthwump of a blackhawk in the distance. that fluttering rock sound is terrifying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 or the creaking of webbing as it sets when you weight it starting a really big rappel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoboy Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 How about the sound of a REALLY BIG ROCKFALL when you are in the tent and can't see a thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plexus Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 TG, Â Where were the conditions so bad for you this weekend? Went out yesterday on stuff ranging from 20-55 degrees and the snowpack was a helluva lot better than I thought it was going to be. The crack and sound of falling snow makes me jump, after getting hit by a slide last spring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salbrecher Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Got to love that "ping" noise and cracking sound ice makes when crossing a marginally frozen lake, mmmmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billygoat Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 How about the clicking noise the starter on your truck makes when your battery doesn't have enough juice to power the solenoid Particularly when you just get back from a week in the woods and you're daydreaming of and and there are no other cars at the trailhead  That's why I always bring beer now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminal_Gravity Posted April 15, 2003 Author Share Posted April 15, 2003 plexus said: TG,  Where were the conditions so bad for you this weekend? Went out yesterday on stuff ranging from 20-55 degrees and the snowpack was a helluva lot better than I thought it was going to be. The crack and sound of falling snow makes me jump, after getting hit by a slide last spring  Behind my house in the Wallowas. Lots of dry freshiez with high winds friday night, warm temps saturday. Above 7500 the crust formed Sat. could just suport my weight but the layer under the crust and above the base had no consolidation. A little lower the crust barely existed and I skied down through knee deep dry powder...in april! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambone Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Or how about when that first time climber hears the velcro coming undone on their harness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fern Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 my memories of ice and rock falls and avalanches which came close to chopping me have no soundtrack at all. I've heard whoomphs and clicks and whirrs but the few times I was seriously threatened the warning was never a loud noise ... I just remember quiet, which is sorta scary itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 fern said: my memories of ice and rock falls and avalanches which came close to chopping me have no soundtrack at all. I've heard whoomphs and clicks and whirrs but the few times I was seriously threatened the warning was never a loud noise ... I just remember quiet, which is sorta scary itself. Extreme Quiet - and time suddenly moving at about 1/10th the speed it normally does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minx Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 unforutanately, the slow down in time is never quite enough  it's that split second when you think "oh shit!" then start to get the thought in your head of what do next but can't quite finish it before the impending disaster actualy happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 The slow moments of numbness before the pain of a bad bouldering landing sets in. The disbelief of Is it really broken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 minx said: unforutanately, the slow down in time is never quite enough  it's that split second when you think "oh shit!" then start to get the thought in your head of what do next but can't quite finish it before the impending disaster actualy happens. For me, it's rarely even enough time to prepare for impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minx Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 tuck and roll...tuck and roll  in my younger years i used to ride horses and my instructor made us practice falling off.  the phrase tuck and roll goes through my head now whenever i fall from anything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fejas Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Terminal_Gravity said:Â Behind my house in the Wallowas. Lots of dry freshiez with high winds friday night, warm temps saturday. Above 7500 the crust formed Sat. could just suport my weight but the layer under the crust and above the base had no consolidation. A little lower the crust barely existed and I skied down through knee deep dry powder...in april! Â Enterprize kicks ass dood!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randygoat Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 I was topping out on a steep pillar this winter, about 20 feet or so of vert, when I placed my tool in the flat above the pillar there was a loud CRACK!! Then a low groan , and then 3 more crack sounds. The pillar I was on shifted a little, and therewas a crack running from a few feet above me to the left ,across the top of the pillar, then down along the right side of the pillar past my last screw.After a few undignified " oh, F&ck, oh F&ck"s I down climbed below the screw, fired in another and bailed[ I knew could scramble around to get the screws back on rappel].Ended the day early Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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