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Half Dome survivors wish they had taken heed
Associated Press via SFGate.com ^ | Saturday, October 8, 2011 | By TRACIE CONE, Associated Press

Posted on 10/08/2011 5:38:30 PM PDT by thecodont

(10-08) 09:50 PDT Fresno, Calif. (AP) --

Armando Castillo knew he should not attempt the last treacherous stretch up Half Dome with storm clouds looming. But he felt he had come too far not to accomplish his goal.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/08/national/a080120D12.DTL#ixzz1aEwT4OCr

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: halfdome; rescue; risks; yosemite
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There is a warning sign at the bottom telling hikers to not proceed if the weather was stormy, but up he went anyhow -- and called 911 to get rescued.

Related story on this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2768322/posts

1 posted on 10/08/2011 5:38:36 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: thecodont

Charge him the full cost of rescue and really make him regret it.


2 posted on 10/08/2011 5:44:04 PM PDT by cripplecreek (ALCS/NLCS playoff thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2789907/posts)
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To: thecodont
yep. Self-centerd asshole masquerading as a hero.
3 posted on 10/08/2011 5:46:05 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: thecodont

Go up the mountain a liberal, come back down a conservative... or not at all.


4 posted on 10/08/2011 5:50:47 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them." --Ronald Reagan)
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To: cripplecreek
"I was freaking out and thought I wasn't going to make it," he said. "But then I remembered that because of my dancing I was in a better position than most people.'"

Yeah, that's the first thing people yell for in an emergency, "Is somebody here a dancer!?"

5 posted on 10/08/2011 5:52:35 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: USNBandit

QUICK!

Is there a dancer in the house?


6 posted on 10/08/2011 5:53:37 PM PDT by cripplecreek (ALCS/NLCS playoff thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2789907/posts)
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To: thecodont

My wife and I made the climb from the parking lot to the top and back—in 1993 at age 57 and 58—5:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Great weather and you go over the top of 2 waterfalls

Most memorable day of our lives

Last part on the cables is no big deal

Heck teenagers and oldsters like us do it

But the weather was great

I guess when the rocks are wet it can be a real problem but you have the cables to hold on to

But No way I would want to be on the top in a rain storm or thunder

You are completely exposed


7 posted on 10/08/2011 5:57:34 PM PDT by uncbob
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To: thecodont

8 posted on 10/08/2011 6:00:16 PM PDT by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts." Richard Feynman father of Quantum Physics)
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To: thecodont

Next year (May or June) a friend and I are hiking up Half Dome. We’re both very conservative so I think we’ll be smart enough to stop & turn around in bad weather as necessary.

Our wives want nothing to do with it, but maybe we can talk them into hiking up it too - they both dance.....


9 posted on 10/08/2011 6:01:12 PM PDT by my4kidsdad
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To: thecodont

Where is the other half of the dome?


10 posted on 10/08/2011 6:01:12 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: thecodont

HEED! PANTS! NOW!


11 posted on 10/08/2011 6:01:35 PM PDT by SparkyBass
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To: Revolting cat!
Where is the other half of the dome?

It's masquerading as gravel covering up the gold in the river.

12 posted on 10/08/2011 6:12:50 PM PDT by Talisker (History will show the Illuminati won the ultimate Darwin Award.)
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To: Revolting cat!

Glacier got it.


13 posted on 10/08/2011 6:12:55 PM PDT by xp38
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To: thecodont
Hey, a large percentage of the people who die doing this are from San Francisco.

Less Pelosi, Boxer and Obama voters.

I say this somewhat regrettably as my daughter lives in Sunnyvale and has been on the dome in risky weather.

A father can only do so much with a 30-something.

14 posted on 10/08/2011 6:13:06 PM PDT by elkfersupper (Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: SparkyBass

Love that movie


15 posted on 10/08/2011 6:19:43 PM PDT by sappy
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To: thecodont

‘”After the fact I realized it’s the wilderness and they’re not supposed to do anything, but I did go in expecting a little more of a warning,” said Castillo, who plans to return.’

They probably have a small sign at the bottom warning people not to make the climb up if bad weather threatens. Why not replace it with a sign right next to the trail that’s about 10 feet tall and about 15 feet wide saying something like this?

“13(make the number changeable) people have died climbing up Half Dome this year and 1000 have been rescued from 2007 to 2010. Why? Because they were a bunch of dumbasses (including salsa dancers) who ignored the approaching bad weather. Will you be next? TURN BACK NOW IF YOU DON’T WANT TO RISK YOUR LIFE. Rescues only available AFTER the bad weather has passed by. For your next rescue dial 1-800-IMADUMBASS. See you at the top! LOL!”


16 posted on 10/08/2011 6:21:05 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: thecodont

That hike looks crazy, and in the rain it would be nuts. There are some good Youtube videos of the hike.


17 posted on 10/08/2011 6:22:46 PM PDT by Sawdring
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To: thecodont

Yikes!

18 posted on 10/08/2011 6:29:35 PM PDT by 6SJ7 (46 55 42 4f)
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To: Sawdring
That hike looks crazy, and in the rain it would be nuts. There are some good Youtube videos of the hike.

I went up first and after I came down my 58 year (at the time in 94 )old wife went up I video taped her going up Showed to our friends and inspired him to do it for his 60th
19 posted on 10/08/2011 6:40:29 PM PDT by uncbob
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To: uncbob

Here’s a good idea; you can’t go up the Dome if there is bad or forecasted bad weather. Just say no


20 posted on 10/08/2011 7:35:06 PM PDT by Kozy (Calling Al Gore)
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