RuMR Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Yo...greg, matt and neversummer...good times yesterday... greg soiled himself, but enjoyed getting dirty (more laundry) matt enjoyed himself and NS got a new project! Good times good times...except for Josh cratering from +30feet up...luck was with him though... Don't bother flaming me...i'm outta here in 2 hours for Montana...be back next week... Later Punters! Rudy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Rudy is right, GregW soiled himself by chasing bolts in North Bend yesterday. After easily scampering up a 6-bolt pseudo masterpiece where every bolt was within a foot of a perfect crack, he moaned, "I feel so dirty, I just don't know....I think I suck." And those sport climbers! What a bunch of wimps. There was a crowd of at least 20 on Launch Ledge, and all of them were young and fit. There lay in seige, stringing ropes and draws up and down the cliff, bringing just about everything down to their level. It was disgusting to watch them pull down on those desecrated features that used to be a cliff, making 5.12 and 5.13 look easy. And when Josh fell forty feet to the ground, they were worried that he might have gotten hurt. Sheesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I went through 3 bars of soap and two hot-water heaters full of water just to feel clean. Somehow my soul still feels tarnished (I know, the fact that I HAVE a soul is a shock to most of you). Those scrawny sportos don't have enough fat on their bodies to survive a decent mountain epic. They'll die early and I'll survive by feasting on their flesh. Josh falling put a damper on the day right from the start, but reinforced the fact that there are still dangers in "guaranteed outcome climbing" (i.e., sportclimbing). Several errors caused Josh's accident; I'm sure his belayer will NEVER make them again. Homeboy walked out under his own power, though; which shocked the shit out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 "The whole point of climbing is 40 foot groundfalls" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Dru said: "The whole point of climbing is 40 foot groundfalls" Don't know what your point is, Dru, but after watching that one I really don't see humor in whatever it is that you are trying to say. Josh was very fucking lucky, that is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr._Natural Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 (edited) groundfalls suck. Edited July 25, 2003 by Mr._Natural Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 but your ass crack rocks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr._Natural Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 yes it does erik. yes it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-rock Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 well, so how'd it happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I believe it happened because they were using a rope that had recently been shortened, and it wasn't long enough to lower him from the anchors. There were lots of people standing about, and I bet the belayer was somewhat distracted by this; they apparently assumed it was long enough and didn't notice when the end ran through the gris-gris. It was another accident like the one that caused the death of David Gunstone a month ago that reminds me of how complacent we all get when we are sport climbing and top-roping and we get used to the idea that the whole thing is pretty much set up already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 (edited) b-rock said: well, so how'd it happen? Well, RumR can speak to the specific nature of the route that this happened on (I don't remember the name), but here goes. Josh was being lowered off of a climb from fairly high on the route (don't think he made the chains, but not sure). Anyway, due to the nature of the wall (WWI Wall), he was hanging out in space beyond Launch Ledge. This pitch is 35-m+ (this is an approximation based on RumR's knowledge) and it sounds like the safest thing to do is hit an intermediate anchor and continue to lower from there. Anyway, this was not done. As Josh came close to level with the ledge, the rope ran out and ran through his belayer's GRIGRI (NOT a foolproof device, people, engage brain) and he plummeted to the forest floor below (about 30-40', as Matt said). Later it was discovered that the owner of the rope had had to cut a chunk off at some point, reducing it from it's factory length of 70-m. I could be wrong, but this rope belonged to neither Josh nor his belayer (RumR can confirm this). It was a pretty social scene until that moment which could have led to the belayer's further distraction from the main focus of getting his partner down safely. Glaring circumstances which contributed to the cause of this accident: 1. Belayer unfamiliar with the rope he is using (speculation until RumR confirms ownership of the rope). 2. Social distractions of belayer 3. Skipped threading and lowering off of intermediate anchor which would guarantee plenty of rope to reach the ledge safely. 4. No knot tied in the end of the rope to prevent accidental feed through belay device. Greg_W Edited July 25, 2003 by Greg_W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 have you been to an osha seminar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 erik said: have you been to an osha seminar? Talking to me? No. Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-rock Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Thanks, good to learn, let's all be careful yo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 you just broke down the incident so well and that coupled with your insider's knowledge in the heavy construction industry, i though you may have stepped up for some continuing education classes. but i guess i was wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 erik said: you just broke down the incident so well and that coupled with your insider's knowledge in the heavy construction industry, i though you may have stepped up for some continuing education classes. but i guess i was wrong! Nope, just done some accident investigations here and there throughout my career. Thanks for the compliment, though; I'm still not putting out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 It is also like an OSHA analysit to mis-use the word "mitigate." The word means "to make milder or less severe." A mitigating factor in this case would perhaps be the fact that he apparently landed on his feet rather than his head. The factor's Greg cited were contributory factors and could only be construted as "mitigating" facors if we were talking about how the belayer was "at fault." But Greg would never talk about that because he thinks our society is too litigeous and people should take responsibility for theirselves and that, if Josh had been hurt, it would not have been right to try to hold somebody else responsible. Right Greg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 (edited) mattp said: It is also like an OSHA analysit to mis-use the word "mitigate." The word means "to make milder or less severe." A mitigating factor in this case would perhaps be the fact that he apparently landed on his feet rather than his head. The factor's Greg cited were contributory factors and could only be construted as "mitigating" facors if we were talking about how the belayer was "guilty." But Greg would never talk about that because he thinks our society is too litigeous and people should take responsibility for theirselves and that, if Josh had been hurt, it would not have been right to try to hold somebody else responsible. Right Greg? Oops, should have consulted Webster's there. Actually, no, Matt, I think the belayer was at fault , as was the climber; the leader should have known what was up with the rope he was climbing on. Both individuals, in my view, made errors which led to the fall. I will edit my post above to replace 'mitigate'. Edited July 25, 2003 by Greg_W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Greg_W said: Dru said: "The whole point of climbing is 40 foot groundfalls" Don't know what your point is, Dru, but after watching that one I really don't see humor in whatever it is that you are trying to say. Josh was very fucking lucky, that is all. josh likes to make statements about what the whole point of climbing is.... its a new one for his collection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I misused the word "guilty." That refers to criminal responsibility, not civil. The more correct term would be "at fault." I edited my post to replace "guilty." Where are the proofreaders when you need them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Dru said: Greg_W said: Dru said: "The whole point of climbing is 40 foot groundfalls" Don't know what your point is, Dru, but after watching that one I really don't see humor in whatever it is that you are trying to say. Josh was very fucking lucky, that is all. josh likes to make statements about what the whole point of climbing is.... its a new one for his collection Didn't know you knew him (he doesn't post on the .com). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Dru said: josh likes to make statements about what the whole point of climbing is.... its a new one for his collection It's a different Josh, geek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Greg_W said: Dru said: Greg_W said: Dru said: "The whole point of climbing is 40 foot groundfalls" Don't know what your point is, Dru, but after watching that one I really don't see humor in whatever it is that you are trying to say. Josh was very fucking lucky, that is all. josh likes to make statements about what the whole point of climbing is.... its a new one for his collection Didn't know you knew him (he doesn't post on the .com). oh I thought this was smartass JoshK we were discussing. sorry josh. nice to hear you OK no sorry to joshk punk ass beyotch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Dru said: oh I thought this was smartass JoshK we were discussing. sorry josh. nice to hear you OK no sorry to joshk punk ass beyotch! Wow, the concept of Dru calling somebody else a smartass, that's classic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 JoshK said: Dru said: oh I thought this was smartass JoshK we were discussing. sorry josh. nice to hear you OK no sorry to joshk punk ass beyotch! Wow, the concept of Dru calling somebody else a smartass, that's classic. Yeah, about as strange as you saying something intelligent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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