I'm really glad you made it outta there in one piece, dude. I don't get you guys who go for that ice and snow and freezing winds stuff. Brrrr! Next time you crave some pain and suffering, just rent "Gigli."
Thanks for sharing that trip report. It teaches all of us mountaineers an important lesson concerning the power of high winds. If I cannot walk in it, then I will turn around rather than crawl in it. Glad you made it out safely and without a major injury.
Sweet TR, Scott. The jet stream is a powerful force.
I'm amazed you didn't pack it in for the weekend after your climb of East North Star Peak.
iamaclimber - Dec 20, 2005 12:30 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report Comment
Scott,
You don't have to be on a high mountain to find those winds. My wife and I were on Gregory Bald in the Smokies in high wind. At first the wind just spun us like weathervaines ( we had on large packs) ,but I turned to see my wife get lifted up two or three feet off the ground. We got off the summit fast!
Your TR reminded me that I have to post a similar one (though nowhere near as dramatic) for Mt. Democrat (CO). In summary... Due to AMS symptoms and approaching storm clouds, I headed down before summiting. My camp was set up at the base of Democrat and Bross mountain (I forget the campground name). Long story short, the already strong winds kept increasing, and I finally abandoned camp at around 10pm. I figured the tent was minutes away from being shredded. I hiked down the sheltered road until I got a cell signal and had my wife pick me up. Heard on the news that wind gusts in some mountain passes reached 125mph. Went back the next morning and my tent was still standing (plug for Eureka Alpenlite). Still think I made the right decision though.
Regarding the freezing water... buy a cheap used sleeping bag. Cut it up/re-sew it to make a cozy for the water bottle. Also, store the bottle upside down. That way, the ice will form at the "bottom" of the bottle, not at the lid.
Great TR Scott. Thanks for sharing your experience. I often wondered at what speed a wind gust could pick up a person. I guess it's in the 100+ range. I'm glad that you're safe...
Thanks for posting your story, Scott. Last month, within 50 feet of the summit of Brokeoff in N Cal, I was blown down twice while leaning on my ice axe for support. I very nearly turned back. Then the wind eased up, so I high-tailed it to the summit, snapped a couple of quick photos, and sat down to glissade down to treeline.
Your mention you got your "silver heels" back out there two days later reminded me of the Black Knight in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" who, after King Arthur had begun chopping of his limbs with a sword, responded, "It's just a flesh wound... I've had worse!"
Hey Scott - glad to hear that you're OK! I've had enough experiences with the wind dragging me along the ground or blowing me uphill to get the idea that this can happen. This story can certainly be a good warning about climbing on exposed ridgelines during high winds!
Dude you are amazing. You nearly die on one mountain and then go up another knowing that you are going to face similiar conditions.
The worst wind story I have about wind is that Mt. Cardigan in New Hampshire I faced a massive winds that made me question crawling instead of walking. I joked with a fellow climber about being blown off. I didn't know it could actually blow people away.
I remember a wind like that while climbing in the Wind River range once. the wind came up at night and was picking me, my bivvy tent, and pack up several inches and dropping me back down. In the middle of the night I put on my harness and placed some pro and tied in. Spooky stuff.
I didn't get many pics (for obvious reasons!), but I climbed Quandary Friday, and it does have a good view of the ridge since it is right next to it.
Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera, but the person I climbed with (an Sp member) did, and will be adding pics; I assume when they are developed. Check the Quandary Peak page after a few days, and you should find some recent pics.
I also got some good shots of the North Star ridge from Silverheels on December 10, but the digital camera was frozen and I took them with the manual camera, and I haven't developed them yet.
but I am still a little skeptical about you traveling that far in the wind. From what I gather you were 'savagely' let down, and slightly injured, but nothing was broken! You must be extremely lucky, I have seen many people fall from 30 and higher and have never seen someone walk away with less than a fracture. Even on snow, an impact from 30 feet would do quite some damage. I just find it hard to beleive that a force that could carry you 30 verticle feet 50 feet horizontally would allow you to get away with some cuts, bruises, and being scared (200 lbs v. gravity over a fair distance= large amount of force that has to go somewhere when you land). Nice report though and I really like the pic,
but I am still a little skeptical about you traveling that far in the wind. From what I gather you were 'savagely' let down, and slightly injured, but nothing was broken!
Distance traveled was just a guess on my part. I could have been off by quite a bit and didn't exactly measure it and we're only talking about a few seconds and something that happened very fast.
I'm sure having five layers of clothing including a very bulky down coat and thick pants may have helped by providing a lot of padding, but yes, I was lucky.
mdash - Dec 20, 2005 1:50 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentI'm really glad you made it outta there in one piece, dude. I don't get you guys who go for that ice and snow and freezing winds stuff. Brrrr! Next time you crave some pain and suffering, just rent "Gigli."
climber46 - Dec 20, 2005 8:15 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentThanks for sharing that trip report. It teaches all of us mountaineers an important lesson concerning the power of high winds. If I cannot walk in it, then I will turn around rather than crawl in it. Glad you made it out safely and without a major injury.
mrwsierra - Dec 20, 2005 12:22 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentSweet TR, Scott. The jet stream is a powerful force.
I'm amazed you didn't pack it in for the weekend after your climb of East North Star Peak.
iamaclimber - Dec 20, 2005 12:30 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentScott,
You don't have to be on a high mountain to find those winds. My wife and I were on Gregory Bald in the Smokies in high wind. At first the wind just spun us like weathervaines ( we had on large packs) ,but I turned to see my wife get lifted up two or three feet off the ground. We got off the summit fast!
Archer
BobSmith - Dec 20, 2005 3:13 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentI've been on southeastern peaks in high winds, but nothing like that! Damn.
WalksWithBlackflies - Dec 21, 2005 10:49 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentYour TR reminded me that I have to post a similar one (though nowhere near as dramatic) for Mt. Democrat (CO). In summary... Due to AMS symptoms and approaching storm clouds, I headed down before summiting. My camp was set up at the base of Democrat and Bross mountain (I forget the campground name). Long story short, the already strong winds kept increasing, and I finally abandoned camp at around 10pm. I figured the tent was minutes away from being shredded. I hiked down the sheltered road until I got a cell signal and had my wife pick me up. Heard on the news that wind gusts in some mountain passes reached 125mph. Went back the next morning and my tent was still standing (plug for Eureka Alpenlite). Still think I made the right decision though.
Regarding the freezing water... buy a cheap used sleeping bag. Cut it up/re-sew it to make a cozy for the water bottle. Also, store the bottle upside down. That way, the ice will form at the "bottom" of the bottle, not at the lid.
Alpinist - Dec 22, 2005 11:47 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentGreat TR Scott. Thanks for sharing your experience. I often wondered at what speed a wind gust could pick up a person. I guess it's in the 100+ range. I'm glad that you're safe...
BrotherJim - Dec 22, 2005 5:03 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentThanks for posting your story, Scott. Last month, within 50 feet of the summit of Brokeoff in N Cal, I was blown down twice while leaning on my ice axe for support. I very nearly turned back. Then the wind eased up, so I high-tailed it to the summit, snapped a couple of quick photos, and sat down to glissade down to treeline.
Your mention you got your "silver heels" back out there two days later reminded me of the Black Knight in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" who, after King Arthur had begun chopping of his limbs with a sword, responded, "It's just a flesh wound... I've had worse!"
PellucidWombat - Dec 23, 2005 3:59 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentHey Scott - glad to hear that you're OK! I've had enough experiences with the wind dragging me along the ground or blowing me uphill to get the idea that this can happen. This story can certainly be a good warning about climbing on exposed ridgelines during high winds!
EastKing - Dec 25, 2005 4:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentDude you are amazing. You nearly die on one mountain and then go up another knowing that you are going to face similiar conditions.
The worst wind story I have about wind is that Mt. Cardigan in New Hampshire I faced a massive winds that made me question crawling instead of walking. I joked with a fellow climber about being blown off. I didn't know it could actually blow people away.
millerw05 - Dec 26, 2005 2:01 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentI remember a wind like that while climbing in the Wind River range once. the wind came up at night and was picking me, my bivvy tent, and pack up several inches and dropping me back down. In the middle of the night I put on my harness and placed some pro and tied in. Spooky stuff.
sshankle - Feb 27, 2006 2:44 pm - Hasn't voted
Pics?I'm thinking of giving this a shot. Any pics of what this ridge may be like in winter Scott?
Scott - Feb 27, 2006 4:19 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Pics?I didn't get many pics (for obvious reasons!), but I climbed Quandary Friday, and it does have a good view of the ridge since it is right next to it.
Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera, but the person I climbed with (an Sp member) did, and will be adding pics; I assume when they are developed. Check the Quandary Peak page after a few days, and you should find some recent pics.
I also got some good shots of the North Star ridge from Silverheels on December 10, but the digital camera was frozen and I took them with the manual camera, and I haven't developed them yet.
sshankle - Feb 27, 2006 4:44 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Pics?I'm gonna PM you...
Dan Dalton - Dec 28, 2006 4:03 pm - Voted 9/10
Nice report...but I am still a little skeptical about you traveling that far in the wind. From what I gather you were 'savagely' let down, and slightly injured, but nothing was broken! You must be extremely lucky, I have seen many people fall from 30 and higher and have never seen someone walk away with less than a fracture. Even on snow, an impact from 30 feet would do quite some damage. I just find it hard to beleive that a force that could carry you 30 verticle feet 50 feet horizontally would allow you to get away with some cuts, bruises, and being scared (200 lbs v. gravity over a fair distance= large amount of force that has to go somewhere when you land). Nice report though and I really like the pic,
Dan
Scott - Dec 28, 2006 6:42 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice report...but I am still a little skeptical about you traveling that far in the wind. From what I gather you were 'savagely' let down, and slightly injured, but nothing was broken!
Distance traveled was just a guess on my part. I could have been off by quite a bit and didn't exactly measure it and we're only talking about a few seconds and something that happened very fast.
I'm sure having five layers of clothing including a very bulky down coat and thick pants may have helped by providing a lot of padding, but yes, I was lucky.