Posted on 02/04/2017 10:59:55 PM PST by BenLurkin
A group of 10 hikers in their 50s and 60s were traversing a path called the Little Jimmy Trail at an elevation of about 7,000 feet when cold, snowy conditions caused half the party to fall down a 70-degree slope, according to Michael Granek, a helicopter pilot with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Around 11:30 a.m., about an hour into the hike, a woman slipped and fell down the hill, Granek said. When a male member of the party reached out to grab her, the icy, steep terrain pulled him down as well, propelling both down 300 to 400 feet.
...
Shortly after the initial incident, another man and woman slipped off the ledge of the trail, and then a fifth person fell as well, according to Granek. Although the party did not have cell service, a Ventura County Search and Rescue team happened to be training a short distance away and became aware of the situation, which they referred to LASD.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
Goodness
In before the it was their fault and they were stupid and put rescuers at risk and needed to die comments
Actually it was gravity...
What a complete nightmare. Those who survived the event will now have to relive it frame by frame through their memories.
So sad. The fact that these were mostly older folks climbing, one would have expected more attention to safety.
I was just in Wrightwood yesterday, hiking. I had to call the hike at Blue Ridge after an hour due to HEAVY snow and ice. I took a step and was hip deep in snow after about 2 miles. What a PITA. Prayers up for the victims.
I don’t even walk the half mile to the mailbox.
It was their fault, they were stupid and put the rescue party at risk. Hopefully they will all die soon.
Oh you can’t possibly mean that.
Some days just aren’t good hiking days.
The American Alpine Club has for many years published “Accidents in North American Mountaineering” and those who trek the high country would be well advised to study that accumulated history, lest they appear in a future edition. The publication analyzes the failure chain in each accident, which I suspect in this case will include lack of training for the conditions including self-arrest techniques; lack of adequate equipment including ice axes, crampons, and avalanche beacons; inadequate clothing as evidenced by hypothermia; and most of all inexperience leading the party to underestimate risks and/or overestimate their abilities.
You and me both, that’s one of the purposes of the Polaris. 8>)
Actually, 'twas gravity that pulled him down.
Regards,
Range Rover.... Problems solved.
Nice picture but there’s 6 ft. drifts of snow up there now
They weren’t climbing. They were recreational hikers. I was up there yesterday- conditions were not hikable
Strange headline — How much more seriously injured can a person be than dead?
I'd shorten that to...
"it was their fault and they were stupid and put rescuers at risk"
From the article:
"A group of 10 hikers in their 50s and 60s were traversing a path called the Little Jimmy Trail at an elevation of about 7,000 feet when cold, snowy conditions caused half the party to fall down a 70-degree slope,.."
What they heck were they doing hiking in a mountainous or even hilly area in that kind of weather??
It took three people to write the story, I wonder who wrote the headline?
Were you in Virigina on the Application Trail - me thinks not from the way written, but wanted to ask. I am geared up for a second attempt to thru-hike the AT starting 8 April. Pack weight is now down to 17 lbs +/- a half pound base weight before, food and water. Last year my base weight was 24 lbs. Happy hiking!
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