Sat 4/18/09 BigCrowdRockFest

SATURDAY APRIL 18, 2009 First Overflowing Lower Lot of 2009
Note1: Most pictures show higher resolution if clicked on and or zoomed.
Note2: Much earlier posts have advice for campers and climbers.



An overflowing lot means backups at the crux.


Looking up rock scramble Sat 4/18/2009

2009 SHENANDOAH ROCKFEST see second half of the post.

2009 SHENANDOAH ROCKFEST

2009 SHENANDOAH ROCKFEST
http://www.dcmetroclimbing.com/

Saturday, April 18, 2009

First completely full lower parking lot of 2009 season. I heard that earlier in the day there had been a back up near the squeeze AKA crux.

I wanted to attend a RockFest 2009 presentation up at Pinnacles Research Station so I greatly shortened my patrol. I slowly made my way up to the start of the Rock Scramble and hung out there for about an hour before making my way back down.

On my way out at around 17:30 I passed at least 5 groups just heading up the mountain 3 of which did not have lights. I provided them with all the appropriate warnings.

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ADVICE PERTINENT TO BEHAVIOUR WITNESSED THIS WEEKEND

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If you are starting after 14:00 take some type of emergency light.

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Make sure you do a tick check when you get home.

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If you are up on the mountain and dusk is approaching do not hesitate to ask another party for help. If you are well prepared and it is late in the afternoon it would be good to watch out for parties who may be at risk.

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There are emergency phones at both the Old Rag Fee Station and the White Oak Fee Station.

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These phones are patched directly to the SNP 24X7 emergency communications center.

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If you get stuck in the dark or know you might get stuck in the dark DO NOT LEAVE THE TRAIL. If you leave the trail your chance of injuring yourself will be greater. If you are on or near the trail your chance of getting found by first light of dawn is close to 100% . If you are a long ways off the trail it is practically zero. From now until mid-Fall unplanned bivouacs will be unpleasant but most likely not lethal.

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While on the Ridge Trail I notice lots of people trying "Alternate Routes" on the rocks. There is no rule against this but if you sustain a non-ambulatory injury in the middle of the rock scramble it is very likely that it will take around 15 hours before you are placed in the an ambulance.

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Keep in mind the trail is situated such that anytime there are difficult moves the farthest you can fall is about 6-8 feet. If you are someplace with difficult moves with longer than 8 foot falls you are off the trail. If you are trying to stay on the trail backtrack and look for where you took a wrong turn.

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On Saturday I witnessed at least three parties take alternate routes on the rock which had they lost their footing they would have fallen 20 to 60 feet. Based on the skill of their movements none of these inidviduals were experienced climbers who had a deep knowledge of their level of skill versus the difficulty of their situation.

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If you know where the real trail goes and are purposely taking an alternate route be responsible about making sure that other parties who can see or hear you are not mistakenly following you thinking you are on the trail.

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Please do not goad other members of your party into doing things that are dangerous.

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2009 SHENANDOAH ROCKFEST

Instead of doing a complete circuit I cut my patrol short to go to a presentation up at Pinnacles Research Station concerning the SNP ROMP and Clean Climbing ethic. I was glad that I went because I learned some new facts and had others reinforced.

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It was good to get a first hand experience of the wonderful community of mid-Atlantic climbers who had come together to spend a day collecting trash in what were often vertically challenging or rocky situations. Over one hundred climbers sacrificed a beautiful climbing day to pick up over a TON of trash and many bags of recyclables.

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2009 SHENANDOAH ROCKFEST HELPED CARRY OUT INJURED HIKER

In addition to helping with the litter collection several members of the RockFest crew were able to help with a litter carry of a non-ambulatory injured hiker.

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THREE CHEERS FOR THE MID ATLANTIC CLIMBERS

http://www.dcmetroclimbing.com/

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Saw a small Bobcat on the stonewall along Skyline drive on way home.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/WILDLIFE/information/?s=050051

Saw my first Yellow Swallowtails of 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_Swallowtail