Either HACE or HAPE anyone can develop at any time regardless of past experiences. It may occur just above 8,000 feet. Reasons vary, but most often it is due to gaining too much elevation in too short time (basically pushing yourself too much even though you may not really feel that way till it's too late). Symptoms may vary from milled to more severe, none of which should be ignored. The bottom line is it may hit you silently in the least expected moment, during the rest (when you think you are safe) or just after when you want to continue climbing. If it hit you, don't expect any miracle; CPR? Hmmm. Just get down of the mountain (loose elevation) as quickly as you can. Time works against you; it will most likely kill you if you stay in place. Oxygen may save your life (and some other drugs) but who carry it on 14K peaks?

Important: don't wait for SAR or symptoms to ease, get down quickly any way you can.

Spelling error: changed HASE to HACE

clmbr wrote: CPR? Hmmm. Just get down of the mountain (loose elevation) as quickly as you can.

Ah, it is kind a difficult to get down the hill when one collapses and goes into full blown respiratory then cardiac arrest.



Judging from your post, you have an extensive amount of experience with full blown HAPE scenarios....

clmbr wrote:Either HASE or HAPE anyone can develop at any time regardless of past experiences.

What is "HASE".

A5RP wrote:respect is due to them and friends until the official report is made public from both the coroner and local investigating authorities.

Bingo.

Chad and Mark - you guys should hug it out or something... so much drama!

I don't think he developed HAPE/HACE. He did the White Mountain (also a 14er) a day prior, and did Russell as a day-hike a weekend prior. Would be good to hear the cause, it is quite confusing at the moment.

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_21194949

Autopsy on San Rafael hiker shows massive head trauma, no foul play

An autopsy on a San Rafael man found dead after hiking in Sequoia National Park showed he died of massive head trauma with fractures and hemorrhaging, a coroner's investigator said Monday.

Thomas Heng, who was with a group of people hiking Mount Langley on July 22, disappeared after going off by himself. After an extensive search by rescuers, his body was found three days later about 300 feet below a precipice.

Jeff Mullenhour, deputy coroner's investigator in Inyo County, said he did not know whether Heng fell directly down from the precipice, or whether he was carried to the spot by an ice chute.

The autopsy revealed no signs of foul play and no sign that a heart attack or other medical emergency preceded the fall, Mullenhour said.

Heng, 31, was an experienced hiker who had lived in San Rafael for about three months.

Another reason to stay concentrated even on exposed hiking trails. A moment of lost concentration leading to a fall is all it takes to get your head smashed.

Weather wasn't good that day, thunder and rain by mid day. He could have slipped on wet rocks or just been unlucky on the steep section.

My guess is that he mistakenly descended the snow chute next to where the trail tops out on Old Army Pass. When returning to the pass from Langley it would seem like this is where the trail is but it's not. It's just a bit further to the south. If being chased by a storm I can certainly see why someone might make a hasty decision and descend the chute. There's likely a use trail leading directly to it which could add to the confusion. A current photo of the pass was posted on another site and there's still a patch of snow at the top of the chute.

Is it just me or has this year been particularly deadly? Seems like it's just been a constant stream of fatal accidents this year.

Looks like he was found some distance from the chute.

More info here:

http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthread ... #Post26173

Rick Kent wrote:Is it just me or has this year been particularly deadly? Seems like it's just been a constant stream of fatal accidents this year.

edit: I was meant to have added "It isn't just you". It seems to be a worse year.

It's been a bad year. RIP

Statistically, no. It has not been a bad year. If one were to count the amount of fatalities compared to the thousands that are out there every weekend, nope.

It is still much more safer to be up in the hills than it is to be driving your rig on any freeway.

To be honest with ya, I am surprised that more are not succumbing to this sad scenario.

Post deleted out of respect for the OP.

Post deleted out of respect for The Chief