SummitPost.org

Gary Schenk wrote:It's a lot like driving on the freeway. Anybody going faster than me is an idiot, anyone going slower than me is a moron.

Dingus Milktoast wrote:Don't send in SAR and don't avail yourself of their services either. Simple enough.

DMT

kevin trieu wrote:

Bombchaser wrote:

kevin trieu wrote:

Bombchaser wrote:A lenticular cloud is a warning of a coming cold front, escpecially if high clouds are increasing. However they can also form from changes in the jet stream or wind direction at high altitude. Lenticular clouds can lower onto the top of large mountains producing localized severe weather. I have had first hand experience of this. I had a lenticular form out of a perfectly sunny day. The windchill hit -35, 60+ mph winds, whiteout conditions from blowing ice and snow. This lasted for about two hours. I was wearing 6 layers of clothes, heavy mitts, and mountaineering boots. Had I left this gear and went up in light clothes I may have died. I later saw that this was produced by a cold front moving into Canada. After the lenticular dissapated it returned to sunny weather. I was caught in the lenticular at the 13,000+ foot summit. The mountain was also covered in snow and ice. Having the clothes, ability to navigate, and saftey gear kept me from ruining my trip.

So you didn’t go down after seeing the lenticular cloud but chose instead to wait it out?

In my case, based on my experience, I made the decision to continue. I was at about 12,000 or so when it started forming. I had looked at weather models before I left and had a good idea of where things were at. I had all of the proper gear and was not on a highly technical route. So based on my experience level, and knowledge I made the decision to continue. I had a good idea this was a localized event since it was forming from the summit outward. Now if I had been at my car, and looked up and seen this, I would have likely discontinued my attempt.

1. Your experience told you to continue higher into forming lentucular clouds?
2. What weather models were you looking at? Did the models tell that the storm was going to last for only two hours?
3. So you continued because the stakes were higher and you were closer to the summit. What's the difference between the decision to continue whether you are at the car or 200 feet from the summit? Shouldn't it be the same?

Dingus Milktoast wrote:Don't send in SAR and don't avail yourself of their services either. Simple enough.

DMT

mrchad9 wrote:Perhaps if the CHP and Siskiyou County would stop this frivolous use of helicopters ... It is the continued use of these toys in unnecessary situations that encourages inexperienced people to take these risks, so assign some of the blame where it belongs.

Vitaliy M wrote:COOL? In my age group I have to do cocaine, drive my mother's 60K car, and go to bars 3 times a week to be cool..I would be so cool if I was 40 years older : (
jk

Bombchaser wrote:

kevin trieu wrote:

Bombchaser wrote:

kevin trieu wrote:

Bombchaser wrote:A lenticular cloud is a warning of a coming cold front, escpecially if high clouds are increasing. However they can also form from changes in the jet stream or wind direction at high altitude. Lenticular clouds can lower onto the top of large mountains producing localized severe weather. I have had first hand experience of this. I had a lenticular form out of a perfectly sunny day. The windchill hit -35, 60+ mph winds, whiteout conditions from blowing ice and snow. This lasted for about two hours. I was wearing 6 layers of clothes, heavy mitts, and mountaineering boots. Had I left this gear and went up in light clothes I may have died. I later saw that this was produced by a cold front moving into Canada. After the lenticular dissapated it returned to sunny weather. I was caught in the lenticular at the 13,000+ foot summit. The mountain was also covered in snow and ice. Having the clothes, ability to navigate, and saftey gear kept me from ruining my trip.

So you didn’t go down after seeing the lenticular cloud but chose instead to wait it out?

In my case, based on my experience, I made the decision to continue. I was at about 12,000 or so when it started forming. I had looked at weather models before I left and had a good idea of where things were at. I had all of the proper gear and was not on a highly technical route. So based on my experience level, and knowledge I made the decision to continue. I had a good idea this was a localized event since it was forming from the summit outward. Now if I had been at my car, and looked up and seen this, I would have likely discontinued my attempt.

1. Your experience told you to continue higher into forming lentucular clouds?
2. What weather models were you looking at? Did the models tell that the storm was going to last for only two hours?
3. So you continued because the stakes were higher and you were closer to the summit. What's the difference between the decision to continue whether you are at the car or 200 feet from the summit? Shouldn't it be the same?

Again, this was a judgement call. I had the experience, I had the gear. The route was not technical. This is why I continued. The weather models I saw didn't show a cold front would enter this region. My experience with weather said that since there was no high clouds above the lenticular that I had plenty of time to make the summit and return. This is all based on my training and experience. If this was Mount Hood, or Shasta the bid would have been called off. If the cloud had gotten more intense, I could have hunkered down since I had the proper gear with me. Doing most of my climbing in the winter, I'm used to dealing with harsh weather conditions and all of my gear has been tested out on smaller peaks so that I know i can survive in these types of conditions. I was not just some joe blow who had never been on a mountain. with no training, and no gear. It is not uncommon to get conditions like this on a major summit. Many climbers continue to climb in this. Based on all of the circumstances and info I had, I decided it was safe enough to continue. Had there been high clouds moving in before I lost sight of the sky, I would have turned back immediately.

How do I test my gear? When the weather is forecasted to be severe, I will go out on smaller peaks to experience those conditions and try out my gear. This way when I do get caught on a major summit I don't panic and know what to do. I have a lot of small peaks I have climbed on my list. Most were done in winter like conditions. I'm also not saying I'm not above making mistakes, I'm human. I have had some close calls. But I do not go unprepared, that is the difference. I have the gear and know how to use the gear. I don't do a lot of roped climbs because I don't have a lot of experience with this. But you don't see me attempting Mount Hoods North Face either!!

kevin trieu wrote:

Bombchaser wrote:

kevin trieu wrote:

Bombchaser wrote:

kevin trieu wrote:

Bombchaser wrote:A lenticular cloud is a warning of a coming cold front, escpecially if high clouds are increasing. However they can also form from changes in the jet stream or wind direction at high altitude. Lenticular clouds can lower onto the top of large mountains producing localized severe weather. I have had first hand experience of this. I had a lenticular form out of a perfectly sunny day. The windchill hit -35, 60+ mph winds, whiteout conditions from blowing ice and snow. This lasted for about two hours. I was wearing 6 layers of clothes, heavy mitts, and mountaineering boots. Had I left this gear and went up in light clothes I may have died. I later saw that this was produced by a cold front moving into Canada. After the lenticular dissapated it returned to sunny weather. I was caught in the lenticular at the 13,000+ foot summit. The mountain was also covered in snow and ice. Having the clothes, ability to navigate, and saftey gear kept me from ruining my trip.

The deciding factor was I had set up base camp at 11,000 feet and spent the night. Coming up from the car would have taken a half day to go just from where my car was at to where I camped. That is the difference. I had originally planned to spend the next night, but with the appearance of a lenticular I decided to pack up and head out after my summit bid.

So you didn’t go down after seeing the lenticular cloud but chose instead to wait it out?

In my case, based on my experience, I made the decision to continue. I was at about 12,000 or so when it started forming. I had looked at weather models before I left and had a good idea of where things were at. I had all of the proper gear and was not on a highly technical route. So based on my experience level, and knowledge I made the decision to continue. I had a good idea this was a localized event since it was forming from the summit outward. Now if I had been at my car, and looked up and seen this, I would have likely discontinued my attempt.

1. Your experience told you to continue higher into forming lentucular clouds?
2. What weather models were you looking at? Did the models tell that the storm was going to last for only two hours?
3. So you continued because the stakes were higher and you were closer to the summit. What's the difference between the decision to continue whether you are at the car or 200 feet from the summit? Shouldn't it be the same?

Again, this was a judgement call. I had the experience, I had the gear. The route was not technical. This is why I continued. The weather models I saw didn't show a cold front would enter this region. My experience with weather said that since there was no high clouds above the lenticular that I had plenty of time to make the summit and return. This is all based on my training and experience. If this was Mount Hood, or Shasta the bid would have been called off. If the cloud had gotten more intense, I could have hunkered down since I had the proper gear with me. Doing most of my climbing in the winter, I'm used to dealing with harsh weather conditions and all of my gear has been tested out on smaller peaks so that I know i can survive in these types of conditions. I was not just some joe blow who had never been on a mountain. with no training, and no gear. It is not uncommon to get conditions like this on a major summit. Many climbers continue to climb in this. Based on all of the circumstances and info I had, I decided it was safe enough to continue. Had there been high clouds moving in before I lost sight of the sky, I would have turned back immediately.

How do I test my gear? When the weather is forecasted to be severe, I will go out on smaller peaks to experience those conditions and try out my gear. This way when I do get caught on a major summit I don't panic and know what to do. I have a lot of small peaks I have climbed on my list. Most were done in winter like conditions. I'm also not saying I'm not above making mistakes, I'm human. I have had some close calls. But I do not go unprepared, that is the difference. I have the gear and know how to use the gear. I don't do a lot of roped climbs because I don't have a lot of experience with this. But you don't see me attempting Mount Hoods North Face either!!

So why would you not go if you were your car but continue to go higher from 12,000' given the same conditions? What are the deciding factors?

The Chief wrote:

mrchad9 wrote:Perhaps if the CHP and Siskiyou County would stop this frivolous use of helicopters ... It is the continued use of these toys in unnecessary situations that encourages inexperienced people to take these risks, so assign some of the blame where it belongs.

Frivolous...Toys....blame?
The use of the CHP AS350 is SAR SOP throughout the State of CA.

The frivolous use of the CHP AS350 is SAR SOP throughout the State of CA.

mrchad9 wrote:You having problems posting Bombchaser?

Bombchaser wrote:

mrchad9 wrote:You having problems posting Bombchaser?

Affirmative!!!

The Chief wrote:The CHP Helo responds just as does any emergency vehicle when summoned via a 911 call out. It is not nor should it be the HAC's responsibility to determine when, how or if they should respond to the call. We have already touched this issue.

mrchad9 wrote:

The Chief wrote:

mrchad9 wrote:Perhaps if the CHP and Siskiyou County would stop this frivolous use of helicopters ... It is the continued use of these toys in unnecessary situations that encourages inexperienced people to take these risks, so assign some of the blame where it belongs.

Frivolous...Toys....blame?
The use of the CHP AS350 is SAR SOP throughout the State of CA.

And I'm saying that SOP is partly to blame for these activities. You don't agree?

When someone reads that these two women get pulled off the mountain because the snow was deep and they might get cold, you don't think that actually encourages more people to head up with minimal experience and gear? There was no need to use that helicopter, they were not even currently in distress, they reported they might get hypothermic, not that they were. Plenty of other courses of action to take. Definitey frivolous. If the State of CA wants to overdo it on every rescue, yes, they bear some of the blame for these activities.

Chief- This statement would be more accurate...

The frivolous use of the CHP AS350 is SAR SOP throughout the State of CA.

The Chief wrote:The CHP Helo responds just as does any emergency vehicle when summoned via a 911 call out. It is not nor should it be the HAC's responsibility to determine when, how or if they should respond to the call. We have already touched this issue.

Gary noted yesterday how the LACSSAR & SBCSSAR automatically respond to any mountain call with an air resource as does the CHP.