Evacuation of Fallen Lead Climber on El Capitan
October 14 and 15, 2005
Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, New Dawn
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After being flown to the summit, the rescue team reviews the plan. | ||||
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The injured/stranded party and their porta-ledge on the New Dawn traverse from Texas Flake, seen from El Cap Meadow. | ||||
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Rescuers Ed Visnovske and George Paiva prepare to be lowered from the summit to the patient's location approximately 1,400' below. | ||||
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Rescuers Ed Visnovske and George Paiva drop over the edge of the North American Wall with their haul bags. | ||||
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Rescuers and edge attendants at the beginning of the lower operation, as seen through a spotting scope on the ground, which displays everything as its mirror image. | ||||
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Visnovske and Paiva begin to be lowered through a long section of overhang, as seen through spotting scope. | ||||
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Visnovske and Paiva from the edge attendant perspective, with an edge roller (foreground) preventing the weighted line from being cut on the rock edge. | ||||
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Rescuer's view of the stranded party, approximately 1,000' below, who have packed their porta-ledge. | ||||
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Spotter's view of the same position. Note the mirror-image effect of the spotting scope compared to the previous photo. | ||||
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Paiva on the long, slow trip down down. | ||||
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Spotter's view as Paiva and Visnovske prepare to evacuate the patient to the ground, still approximately 1,400' below. | ||||
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Visnovke rigging in preparation for being lowered with the patient. | ||||
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Scar from where rock flake broke loose and struck climber. Compare in size to carabiner, at right. | ||||
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With thousands of feet of 11mm rope out, enough heat can be generated by the brake bar to damage the rope. Water is applied for cooling. | ||||
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At the end of the rescue it's still dangerous to drop 3,000+' of rope from the top of El Capitan. It must be hauled back up. | ||||
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Rescuer Dov Bock watches as the helicopter touches down on the summit to take rescuers and gear back to the valley floor. | ||||
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Renowned climber and veteran YOSAR member Werner Braun gears up for the flight home. | ||||
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Safety Officer and longtime YOSAR guru John Dill takes in the view. | ||||