LostCamKenny Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 http://www.kgw.com/news/Climber-falls-into-Mount-St-Helens-crater-84413927.html Quote
Frikadeller Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 WTF! It's not like there are a bazillion warnings on various websites and such to stay the fuck away from the cornice at the top. A couple of years ago some sledder fell in the crater too when he walked out to the edge to "get a better look" after driving his 2T smoke belch-o-matic 2000 up to the summit. (Which is now banned, thanks to that guy!) Hope this guy is OK, but that could have been a long slide. He's pretty lucky that someone was able to get a signal to call 911, since cell phones rarely work on the Mountain. I hope the USCG gets him out in one piece. Quote
billcoe Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Hope this guy is OK, but that could have been a long slide. He's pretty lucky that someone was able to get a signal to call 911, since cell phones rarely work on the Mountain. I hope the USCG gets him out in one piece. It was 1pm when the authorities were notified, it appears from the story that although his buddies had plenty of time, they didn't go get him, probably expecting that someone else would take care of it. If that's true, then I agree with the WTF part of your title. The search is suspended until tomorrow...dudes laying up there right now. Shit. Quote
LostCamKenny Posted February 16, 2010 Author Posted February 16, 2010 The search is suspended until tomorrow...dudes laying up there right now. Shit. gonna be a cold night up there... best thoughts for him and his family! Quote
summitchaserCJB Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Why not rappel into the crater and get him. Quote
eldiente Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 The same cornice almost got me a few weeks ago while snowboarding. I was eating an Apple for lunch when the whole thing cuts under my feet. I was able to jump off the block and face first dived back onto the ridge, made an awful noise as it rushed down into the crater. I felt bad as it scared the crap out of a large group of Mazams that were up there. Quote
Frikadeller Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Why not rappel into the crater and get him. If it's anything like the time the Sledder fell in the crater, he fell over 1100', so that would have be one reallllly long rope. That time they plucked him out with a helicopter. I suspect that is exactly what they where trying to do today, but winds and weather made it unsafe. It's going to be a long night, even if the guy is not hurt. Who knows what kind of clothes he had with him, or if even a pack made it with him, etc. Quote
Sheep Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 hoping he gets out alright, with what the weather looks like tomorrow he might be there another day before a heli can get to him Quote
dennyt Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Why not rappel into the crater and get him. Most parties don't bring a rope. It's a pretty straightforward snow slog. When I was there in May of 2007, somebody postholed 20 feet back from the edge, and could see daylight under their feet. Yikes! I hope he keeps blowing that whistle, maybe it will help him stay warm Quote
ZimZam Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Hunker down and stay warm bro. Good vibes sent your way. Quote
benb Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Sending warm thoughts his way. I assume everything possible was done to get aid to this guy?? Stefan should head south! Quote
mtn.climber Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 news said he's stuck on a 70 degree slope. Gonna be a long night. Hang in there dude. Quote
Mtguide Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 In spite of the conditions, the rescue chopper was evidently able to locate him and they actually did send a man down to him. However the decision was made to pull the rescuer out due to rockfall and avalanche danger. I'm a little mystified as to why they couldn't have brought the climber up with the rescuer, but perhaps he was injured and it would have taken more time to get him ready to bring him up than they felt was prudent, given the conditions. But what we're not told is if they dropped any survival gear to the climber, any sort of shelter/space blanket, food, snow shovel, etc. Seems they could have at least done that, or sent it down with the rescuer. But, I wasn't there. At least they they have a fix on his location for in the morning. Hope to hell he makes it. If he still has his ice axe he might, if he's physically able, be able to anchor himself securely and even dig out a trench, snow cave, or some kind of rudimentary shelter. This again is something it seems to me the rescue personnel could have facilitated. The way they've handled this so far seems questionable at the least, but I'll have to reserve judgement till we know the full story. Quote
treknclime Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 The way they've handled this so far seems questionable at the least, but I'll have to reserve judgment till we know the full story. These USGS guys that you "reserve judgment" on don't have a mandate to rescue or help anyone, but they put their lives on the line when they at least tried to help that climber, which is very admirable. The details how and what they did are actually insignificant. Contrast the USGS efforts on St. Helens to save the climber yesterday, against the Seattle Metro security officers and and POLICE, who stood by and did nothing when that young lady begged for help...and then got beat up, as we witnessed on the recent video. Both groups of people are public servants. It's interesting to see the difference in how people go out of their way, beyond their mandate, to help or not help those in need. Quote
Joe_Poulton Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Too bad nobody had skis...do a Cornice Drop block test on a section away from the climber then ski down and over to the guy...or infact the spot that he fell at would have been sufficent enough to ski down to him....Hope he's still warm. Quote
LostCamKenny Posted February 16, 2010 Author Posted February 16, 2010 http://www.kgw.com/news/Climber-falls-into-Mount-St-Helens-crater-84413927.html#comments His name is Joseph Bohlig - let's just hope he get's outta there today! Quote
billcoe Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 (edited) http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Kelso-climber-fell-near-craters-Shoestring-Notch-84486752.html They give all kinds of details but not if he got fished out. I woke up twice last night (oh, the joys of being old) and was thinking of this guy alone and in the cold, possibly separated from his backpack and laying in the snow with a broken leg or hip: as I listened to the rain pelting onto my roof inside my nice warm home. To anyone who climbs with me, I ain't coming back without you. If you spend the night out, I'm there with ya unless I absolutely have to go for help, and even then, I'll be trying my best to make sure you got an extra layer of my clothes on you and my pack to lay on before I sprint. I expect the same from anyone who goes out with me. Hopefully that happened in this case, we don't know from the fragmented reports. This kind of thing could easily happen to any of us (as Nate says above) Hoping for the best for this guy and that he gets out to give his loved ones a hug and to get out and climb again. Full story text: "by Eric Adams Posted on February 16, 2010 at 9:57 AM MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- The climber who fell into Mount St. Helens on Monday was located near a well-known area, the Shoestring Notch, just behind a glacier with the same name, according to rescuers with the U.S. Coast Guard. Shoestring Notch is located in the southeast corner along the volcano crater's back wall, which is 8,600 feet tall according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Those who know him described Joseph Bohlig as an experienced climber who's summitted St. Helens nearly 70 times. Skamania County Undersheriff David Cox said he fell 1,500 feet to the rocky crater floor." opps, I see LCK just linked the same story. Edited February 16, 2010 by billcoe Quote
BluNorthern Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Damn, not sounding good... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100216/ap_on_re_us/us_st_helens_rescue Quote
toddipoo Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 "Bohlig was standing on a cornice to have his photo taken" "Bohlig an experienced climber" I Hope they get him out of there. If his friends ended up not doing anything and waiting for SAR then if I was him and I was alive I would kill my friends. -Todd Quote
t_rutl Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/84480982.html "There was no movement of the head, no attempt to signal," said Lt. Brooks Crawford, the pilot of a Coast Guard helicopter. He said the man's torso was covered with snow, with his arms, legs and head sticking out. sad day Bohlig was alive and blowing a rescue whistle soon after the fall. He had climbed the volcano 68 times before Monday's accident, Cox said. sucks that after all those trips this one is where the mistake was made... Quote
Pete_H Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Hard to imagine why his buddies didn't do anything. Quote
DanO Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 (edited) Never been to that mountain or spot, I imagine to solo down it would have to be suicidal before I would not do it, to get to a partner. Goes to show that self rescue is the best option or at least set up camp around a injured party, if at all possible. I have been thinking to bring bivy gear, even on day trips just for such a accidental, for in case. Belay coat and half sleeping bag, light stove and pot for water. Helo rescue is great, but depends on good weather. Dan Edited February 16, 2010 by DanO Quote
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