tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post573767414987658379..comments2024-02-24T19:31:47.301-08:00Comments on The Mountaineering Review: A Hair-Raising Day on Mt. BaldySam Pagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01004221769641465465noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-36253091686888230632010-01-03T19:16:37.975-08:002010-01-03T19:16:37.975-08:00Natalie is incredibly lucky to have survived that ...Natalie is incredibly lucky to have survived that fall, and that those folks were there to help when normally there aren't many people up there on weekdays.<br /><br />On the subject of PLBs; I am a Ham radio operator and have my radio with me at all times, even in the mountains. I make it known to people on the mountain, and in my neighborhood, that I have a radio in case of an emergency. I can reach a live human from the bottom of Baldy Bowl and on the summit. I think it would be fantastic if at least one person from every hiking group would get a Ham license and carry a radio. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities for Hams to practice radio communications and to assist their communities in the event of a major disaster. During and after Hurricane Katrina, when all other means of communication failed (phone, cell, am/fm radio, TV, etc.), Ham radio operators got through. I will be happy to help an interested person find study materials, testing locations, and radio shops. P.S. You don't need to learn Morse Code anymore.MightyMouseMountaineerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03369033864218730982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-5729712673693630182009-12-29T00:44:17.238-08:002009-12-29T00:44:17.238-08:00I used to work with Natalie, and THANK YOU!! Reall...I used to work with Natalie, and THANK YOU!! Really, thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-68635183859745830762009-12-28T21:23:54.824-08:002009-12-28T21:23:54.824-08:00Thanks to all of you who helped in Natalie's r...Thanks to all of you who helped in Natalie's rescue. She's a wonderful young woman. PaulaUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07619874008780889999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-40103260103988684912009-12-27T23:52:00.174-08:002009-12-27T23:52:00.174-08:00Good story with happy ending. Sounds like conditio...Good story with happy ending. Sounds like conditions were very treacherous and icy that day and high winds to make matters worse, though I don't think the winds were the cause since the bowl is protected from the ridge top winds. Seems that it was just an unfortunate slip & fall and icy conditions which makes it nearly impossible to self arrest or slow down. I wonder why the group that was with this young lady was not roped up together for safety given the conditions that day? Thankfully all is well that ends well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-48137758825120593352009-12-27T15:43:31.474-08:002009-12-27T15:43:31.474-08:00I know for a fact that at least one person had one...I know for a fact that at least one person had one with them but to activate it would notify family about 3 hours away. Not sure it would have done anything to speed things up.Jackalopeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08117320954855105936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-78535286272310141702009-12-27T15:05:43.265-08:002009-12-27T15:05:43.265-08:00Incredible story with an even better ending. Kudos...Incredible story with an even better ending. Kudos to Sara and Co. for helping save this young lady and what a great Xmas gift for her and her family & friends. Another big reason I feel very safe when doing trips with SMI. They are top notch, their track record & guide's experience speak for itself. My only question here is how come out of this many experienced people on the mountain in dangerous winter conditions, not a single person had PLB? They are so inexpensive nowadays and can mean the difference between life or death. Minutes & seconds are everything. Take advantage of the technology that is available to you! You guys should know cell phones don't work in that canyon on Baldy and only at the summit. I carry a PLB almost all the time unless I am doing the walk up trail with a zillion other people. Anyway, glad everyone is safe & sound and happy new year!Justinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-20903678337563847172009-12-27T12:15:59.526-08:002009-12-27T12:15:59.526-08:00Alan: From the little I know about personal locato...Alan: From the little I know about personal locator beacons, having one on hand could only have helped, since there was no cell phone reception. Considering the number of accidents in Baldy Bowl, perhaps it would be wise to install one at the nearby ski hut.Sam Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01004221769641465465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-39958355341983476292009-12-27T11:34:28.860-08:002009-12-27T11:34:28.860-08:00Can't imagine someone even standing let alone ...Can't imagine someone even standing let alone walking over to the hut after a fall like that. Myself and a group climbed up the bowl yesterday in hard snow/icy conditions. I can tell you that you only have a second or two to self arest and then you are gone like a rocket with zero chance of stopping. Conditions were very hard and icy. Its really great that climbers like yourself and the others stepped up and helped with the resuce and making the injured feel as comfortable as possible. A fall like that, in conditions like that, a person is really lucky to survive.<br />-MikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-72055038590108817582009-12-27T11:06:57.671-08:002009-12-27T11:06:57.671-08:00Thanks for the kind words, folks.Thanks for the kind words, folks.Sam Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01004221769641465465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-5617053431813559402009-12-27T00:56:51.026-08:002009-12-27T00:56:51.026-08:00Thank you so much for helping my friend Natalie, s...Thank you so much for helping my friend Natalie, she means the world to me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-22645062811208999682009-12-26T21:49:01.755-08:002009-12-26T21:49:01.755-08:00I remember you S Kay. You were stsnding next to th...I remember you S Kay. You were stsnding next to the fire trucks as MC, Tracie and walked down the road about 4 PM.Jackalopeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08117320954855105936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-37660871098097028362009-12-26T18:46:54.421-08:002009-12-26T18:46:54.421-08:00Sam, I was the silver-haired lady who walked up wh...Sam, I was the silver-haired lady who walked up while you were waiting at the falls and asked, "Did we lose someone?" What a great account of the event! My cabin is just below the falls on the eastern rim of that canyon, so I heard the helicopter late into the evening and continued to think good thoughts for Natalie, poor thing. I enjoy your writing! Stop by my blog sometime--I post quite a bit about life in Baldy.<br />~S. Kay MurphyS Kay Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09631953082915369422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-15595705692162331532009-12-26T18:17:16.983-08:002009-12-26T18:17:16.983-08:00Thank you so so so much for your part in ensuring ...Thank you so so so much for your part in ensuring Natalie got home safe and sound! She sent us a msg with a link to your blog so we had a better understanding of what happened to her that day. You're a hero!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-8841714401121310322009-12-26T07:22:34.055-08:002009-12-26T07:22:34.055-08:00Well done,nice photos and well written. Sounds lik...Well done,nice photos and well written. Sounds like an interesting day, glad it worked out.Asbufrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126891072006820168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-11385043522738316662009-12-25T21:13:36.690-08:002009-12-25T21:13:36.690-08:00Good report: My nephew and I went up the bowl thi...Good report: My nephew and I went up the bowl this past Sunday. It was a bit icy toward the top before topping out on the ridge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-71247173743152139122009-12-25T11:27:10.134-08:002009-12-25T11:27:10.134-08:00GREAT trip report on a great day. All things consi...GREAT trip report on a great day. All things considered, it seems tome that our new friend Natalie is a very fortunate girl. I was blessed to get to tag along and see the pros in action. Have a great Christmas all.<br />RonJackalopeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08117320954855105936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-26231404515557335312009-12-25T10:46:48.901-08:002009-12-25T10:46:48.901-08:00Natalie was a complete "Trooper" through...Natalie was a complete "Trooper" throughout this ordeal. She was a very cooperative "victim" during her treatment and complied with all that we asked of her. She was very fortunate to come away with only the minimal injuries she sustained. The bottom line here is that God didnot have her name on the his calendar for December 23, 2009!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-86906187325650532532009-12-25T10:46:42.909-08:002009-12-25T10:46:42.909-08:00Excellent write up, with a happy ending (so to spe...Excellent write up, with a happy ending (so to speak). That mountain is more dangerous than people give it credit for. I know, I was rescued off of that mountain as well. But - you live and learn and keep going back. Respectfully and more aware. Each day life is an adventure, and we can either watch is pass us by or we can get right into the thick of things. Sometimes the mountain bucks us off, and sometimes we manage our own way down. Many kudos to you and the other climbers for representing the best side of mountaineers!! <br /><br />Mahalo ~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-5578922009619715182009-12-25T10:44:31.347-08:002009-12-25T10:44:31.347-08:00Sam, thank you for staying with me at the trailhea...Sam, thank you for staying with me at the trailhead, the cheeseburger, and safely guiding me to the gas station :-) GREAT TRIP REPORT! TracieTracienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-15122010955244390382009-12-25T09:47:05.793-08:002009-12-25T09:47:05.793-08:00Thank you for your part in her safe return home!Thank you for your part in her safe return home!Cristanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-51567164449249968532009-12-25T07:50:30.701-08:002009-12-25T07:50:30.701-08:00Ian: I misunderstood them in the wind. I heard &q...Ian: I misunderstood them in the wind. I heard "seltzer", but they were actually saying "cell phone".Sam Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01004221769641465465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-57668532893400051422009-12-25T06:16:27.459-08:002009-12-25T06:16:27.459-08:00One more note, I don't understand the seltzer...One more note, I don't understand the seltzer part? What did they want that for?<br /><br />-IanIanhttp://iggsoftware.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610414089208758848.post-72136506102034235982009-12-25T05:27:40.083-08:002009-12-25T05:27:40.083-08:00Sam, excellent write up. I look forward to the nex...Sam, excellent write up. I look forward to the next post, although I hope it isn't as dramatic, for everyone's sake. .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com