SummitPost.org

Vitaliy M. wrote:Do you guys think I may get frost bite on my middle extremity if I attempt a winter day-hike in boxer briefs? Or will I stay safe if I move fast, and maybe wear one of those kickboxing protectors?

Vitaliy M. wrote:Do you guys think I may get frost bite on my middle extremity if I attempt a winter day-hike in boxer briefs? Or will I stay safe if I move fast, and maybe wear one of those kickboxing protectors?

kylenicolls wrote:The story I heard was 11/11/11. Hippy commune was meditating at the Ski Bowl region. 2-3pm a 19 y/o dude decided to take a rock up in sweatpants and sweatshirt at 3pm (no shoes). I think rescue was called at around 5-6pm and was found dead the next day a few thousand feet up from the road (9-10k recall). Too bad, so young.

Report wrote:November 12th – Old Ski Bowl – fatality…non-climbing related. A group of people had walked up from Bunny Flat to the Old Ski Bowl, (gate was closed at Bunny Flat) to meditate, chant and conduct religious and/or ceremonial actions…apparently Mike Falvo, who was part of this group, decided after the ceremony was over that he was just going to hike and “place a rock on top of the mountain”…he was wearing sweatpants and a light shirt and was not wearing any shoes. He never returned. Hypothermia and exposure were most likely the cause of death. His feet were reported to be mangled from his “walk”. The body was located in the upper Old Ski Bowl area and was flown out by California Highway Patrol H-16.

rattler wrote:They say you should never stand on the very top of a mountain, it angers the gods.

clmbr wrote:MtHowever, next time you climb it, especially when you are alone (is that possible?), think about it and, perhaps, watch for spirits...
Summit attempters, however, should never disrespect this 14K+ mountain because ignorance may cost their lives.

Yeti wrote:

rattler wrote:They say you should never stand on the very top of a mountain, it angers the gods.

I'll add that to the very long list of other things I do that anger the gods.

clmbr wrote:MtHowever, next time you climb it, especially when you are alone (is that possible?), think about it and, perhaps, watch for spirits...
Summit attempters, however, should never disrespect this 14K+ mountain because ignorance may cost their lives.

I solo'd it... and nearly needed a ride off the mountain. Still nursing my injury. I was excessively surprised to find that I was the only person on the mountain for most of the day. I caught a guy coming up Misery hill, that was it. When I solo something big, it's because there's nothing up there but what you bring with you (physically and emotionally). It's therapy.

clmbr wrote:...but some people hold the ice ax without the [leash] attached to their wrist or harness. I see this more and more. When I asked a girl why, she said that the way she was taught in the mountaineering class, to avoid getting hurt by the ax while losing it.

Well maybe so, but I never get apart with my ice ax or ice tools, and the [leash] is tightly attached to my wrist. My ice ax is the only tool that may ultimately save my life...

billisfree wrote:I do same as clmbr does. It's loose... until I'm on a risky slope. Then I secure it to my wrist.

Fred Spicker wrote:The down side to having your ax secured to your body is that if you lose control of the ax and start to tumble you have a fair chance of being cut, stabbed,.....

clmbr wrote:Well that may be true but you still have a chance to grab it and self-arrest (that's my experience), but if not, you are dead anyway; unless, lucky, but then I would not mind to have a few cuts from my ax. However, this philosophy is based on individual's perception and preference combined with (a specific) experience. You never know till something happens.

Ben B. wrote:I have my tools attached via umbilicals... but if I'm just sporting a basic ice ax, I don't attach it because I change hands frequently. An umbilical wouldn't be a bad idea for an ax, though- attach with a nano or snap-link, and you can quickly switch from the head to the point, when going from shaft plunging to traction. Would require wearing a harness, though. . .

twoshuzz wrote:. . .
Generally, I myself am not one to leash the ax, especially with a wrist leash. My reasons vary between both Ben and Fred's observations. There have been those times when I've run an umbi on my ax, but those have been rare and generally not on lower 48 peaks. When running a pair of tools, I've always used umbis.

Yeti wrote:. . .
I solo'd it... and nearly needed a ride off the mountain. Still nursing my injury. .

in the above story Yeti wrote:. . .
Earlier that morning, I'd decided to tighten up my leash; it had been loose so that swapping hands was easier, but I thought it'd be safer to cinch it up as things got steeper. Glad I did, to have lost the axe would have been my end. I remember a sense of "You've stopped! Now don't you $%^&ing move from this position!"
. . .

clmbr wrote: It's not gods, it's the mountain and its temper; and your attitude toward it. You think you can beat the mountain?