Lambone Posted January 22, 2002 Posted January 22, 2002 Well, yesterday my helmet saved my life for real. There I was sittin at the base of "Shriek" with four other climbers, minding my own buisness, when shhhhhhhooooooowwwwwsssshhh WHACK!!! A chunk o' ice fell from about 70 meters above and caught me square in the top of the head. I didn't get to see it, but heard it coming, and it felt like a freakin brick. A buddy said that it was about the size of a football. At first I thought it had broken my neck, and then I had to fight to keep from passing out. It felt like my head was ringing like a church bell hit by a sledge hammer! I was quite relived when the sensation passed and I regained my senses. My neck had full range of motion and everything was ok. Then the splitting headach set in, but luckily it eventually went away as well. Nevertheless, like the foolish addicts that we all are, we stayed and did the next pitch! I have a whole new respect for my helmet now. And I am thankfull that I wasn't wearing one of those skimpy foam things. I can only imagine how much it would have hurt with one of those ... Bomber plastic helmets are the only way to go when ice climbing in SW BC. Anybody else got an "I LOVE MY HELMET!!!" story? [ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: Lambone ] Quote
mattp Posted January 22, 2002 Posted January 22, 2002 Have you ever been to the Sunshine Wall at Vantage? Quote
Lambone Posted January 22, 2002 Author Posted January 22, 2002 If I had been, do you think I would admit it? Quote
Juneriver Posted January 22, 2002 Posted January 22, 2002 I used to not worry too much about wearing a helmet when climbing alpine stuff. But, a coupla years ago on Mt Formidible a fist-sized rock came tumblin' down from somewhere above and smacked me full on the noggin. I still stutter sometimes but I always wear the helmet when in the alpine world. [ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: Juneriver ] Quote
Wopper Posted January 22, 2002 Posted January 22, 2002 What kind of helmet were you wearing Lambone? Quote
Lambone Posted January 22, 2002 Author Posted January 22, 2002 The Black Diamond plastic one, hemisphere or something... Suprisingly it didn't crack! Everyone expected that it would be toast from the noise it made, a loud CRACK! It made my ears ring... Quote
Rodchester Posted January 22, 2002 Posted January 22, 2002 Did it destroy the helmet? Crack? Shatter? ??? Glad to hear you are OK. Quote
Lambone Posted January 22, 2002 Author Posted January 22, 2002 The Black Diamond plastic one, hemisphere or something... Suprisingly it didn't crack! Everyone expected that it would be toast from the noise it made, a loud CRACK! It made my ears ring... But it worked! Quote
Rodchester Posted January 22, 2002 Posted January 22, 2002 Hmmm...I'd say that peice of equipment is being retired. I think it deserves a ceremony and a decent burial. Quote
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