graham wrote:Dream of breaking the land speed record by riding a blue plastic saucer down the Baldy Bowl

I think Clark Griswold holds the current record

lasvegaswraith wrote:

DaveGill wrote:

Luciano136 wrote:

H2SO4 wrote:What exactly is funny about someone falling and needing an ambulance?!

Not funny but more sad. Each and every time a horde of people go up there, some sort of accident happens. Everyone can make a mistake but 90% of these accidents are people that do not have the skills or experience to go up the bowl. It's getting really old and puts the lifes of rescuers and other first responders on the line...

People do occasionally get hurt in the bowl, but it was more likely a sledding/snowplay accident at Manker. Back and head injuries are a pretty standard deal on weekends at the Flats when there's snow to be had.

Dave's right. it probably was someone barreling into a tree, sign, fence or parked car with a makeshift sled at Manker. It's always like that when there is a even a little snow up there.

Even so, still annoying. It would be nice if people had a little more common sense. They should just let natural selection take its course

FortMental wrote:what..... no snowball fights? No igloos? No tic tac toe with piss? No toboggan speed records? Naked snow angels? Kite skiing? Giant mega snowball?

I think most of those happened the previous weekend

TacoDelRio wrote:Bruno, I love your use of the word clown. +50 points.

LOL I mean, it does get old, geesh!

I don't normally find myself being part of the PC police, but as mountaineers, I don't think we should laugh at or be annoyed by people that do risky things for fun (sledding at Manker Flats). Getting hurt sledding is not any stupider than getting hurt climbing something really awesome, and it's easier and less risky for the rescuers to drive an ambulance to Manker Flats than to fly a helicopter to somewhere really awesome. Climbing is not an inherently superior activity to sledding, so given that we all climb knowing that there's some risk that we'll get stuck or hurt and require rescue, I think we should lay off people that require an ambulance for other reasons.

H2SO4 wrote:I don't normally find myself being part of the PC police, but as mountaineers, I don't think we should laugh at or be annoyed by people that do risky things for fun (sledding at Manker Flats). Getting hurt sledding is not any stupider than getting hurt climbing something really awesome, and it's easier and less risky for the rescuers to drive an ambulance to Manker Flats than to fly a helicopter to somewhere really awesome. Climbing is not an inherently superior activity to sledding, so given that we all climb knowing that there's some risk that we'll get stuck or hurt and require rescue, I think we should lay off people that require an ambulance for other reasons.

Have you ever been to Manker Flats after significant snow? I'm not kidding when I say it's ridiculous! If having your kids sledding onto the road is not a stupid thing to do, then I don't know what is LOL

That said, there's an easy fix. Get up there early and get out early and the zoo can be avoided.

H2SO4 wrote:I don't normally find myself being part of the PC police, but as mountaineers, I don't think we should laugh at or be annoyed by people that do risky things for fun (sledding at Manker Flats). Getting hurt sledding is not any stupider than getting hurt climbing something really awesome,

If the kids aren't getting hurt while sledding, they're doing it wrong.

H2SO4 wrote:I don't normally find myself being part of the PC police, but as mountaineers, I don't think we should laugh at or be annoyed by people that do risky things for fun (sledding at Manker Flats). Getting hurt sledding is not any stupider than getting hurt climbing something really awesome, and it's easier and less risky for the rescuers to drive an ambulance to Manker Flats than to fly a helicopter to somewhere really awesome. Climbing is not an inherently superior activity to sledding, so given that we all climb knowing that there's some risk that we'll get stuck or hurt and require rescue, I think we should lay off people that require an ambulance for other reasons.

I hear you, but it gets goofy up there when there's snow. Trust me, these guys rocket down a 100' steep hill right into the road, on top of double parked cars everywhere. It's nuts - but I get what you're sayin'.
BTW...you wear gloves with that acid?

Yeah it gets seriously retarded up there. We were up there the day before Christmas and inquired from a group of hikers (one in pajama pants, another in what appeared to be house slippers) if they had crampons or any gear to be heading up past the ski hut. They said they had done the trail before and would be fine. We watched them head out and within minutes trying to crawl back on their stomachs as they continued to slide downhill. I also marvel at the the parents who stand at the bottom of the hill across from manker flats and try and catch their kids before they fly full speed into the boulder field directly at the bottom of the hill.

I agree that clown is the right term and award Bruno an additional 50 points.

H2SO4 wrote: Getting hurt sledding is not any stupider than getting hurt climbing something really awesome .... Climbing is not an inherently superior activity to sledding, so given that we all climb knowing that there's some risk .... we should lay off people that require an ambulance for other reasons.

+1.

Yup - I was up there on Sat too, and I was behind the guy laying skid marks via brake pads. Took me another 30 minutes to get the stink outta my car! And they have to be reminded to use the turn-outs.

EMS has taken to saving their energies, instead parking up at Manker on those busy w/e days. Good training!

Nice "How Not To" photo set!

Gary Schenk wrote:

redneck wrote:

H2SO4 wrote:I don't normally find myself being part of the PC police, but as mountaineers, I don't think we should laugh at or be annoyed by people that do risky things for fun (sledding at Manker Flats). Getting hurt sledding is not any stupider than getting hurt climbing something really awesome,

If the kids aren't getting hurt while sledding, they're doing it wrong.

That was always our philosophy back in Indiana. You had to, at a bare minimum, crack a rib just to maintain your street cred.

I think parents try to use sledding as a way to get rid of unwanted children. Thanks to sledding "accidents", I've been knocked unconscious, bruised a couple ribs, and busted up my face bad enough to need stitches (teeth through the lip, etc.). The worst I've had climbing is some scrapes and bruises. I'm not sure if that says less about my sledding or my climbing