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rescues
El Capitan Rescues
10-19-04 to 10-22-04
pictures from the El Capitan Rescues
click thumbnails for larger image
El Capitan's Salathe Wall during a brief break in the storm, 10/19.
YOSAR Coordinator K. Lober briefs rescuers in the under-construction training room.
Support Team Leader B. Hergert interfaces with snowmobile support near Tamarack Flat, approx 4am, 10/20.
Rescuers continue on the 11-mile hike in through heavy snow and slush just before sunrise, 10/20.
Support team members carry in 50 to 80 pound packs of rescue and survival gear, 10/20.
Highway 120 covered in snow, closing much earlier than normal, 10/20.
Rescuers continue up the back side of El Capitan in deepening snow, 10/20.
The route, which was obscured by snow and low visibility, was flagged by a three-man team the day before, 10/20.
The advanced rescue team stops and builds a warming fire near Ribbon Falls, just below the summit, before continuing on, 10/20.
Climbing Ranger L. "Link" ELse inspects SAR-siter S. Vincik's belay line rigging before starting rescue operations on the Tempest, 10/20.
Photo by N. Knight
J. Hoeflich prepares to be lowered down the face to aid the stranded solo climber on the Tempest, 10/20.
Photo by N. Knight
As the storm breaks, J. Hoeflich looks on while the stranded solo climber jugs the fixed line, 10/20.
Photo by N. Knight
With blue sky spreading, rescuers return to base camp over the treacherous snowy slabs after completing the Tempest rescue, 10/20.
Photo by N. Knight
A window of good weather finally allows H-551 to fly with sling loads of additional gear and supplies, 10/20.
H-551 lands on the summit of El Capitan to fly out some of the rescuers. About 20 remained in base camp over night, 10/20.
Ski Patroler B. Shoor at the summit with the 80 pound pack he carried in, 10/20.
Rescuers await helicopter pick-up on the summit after the first day's rescue, 10/20.
Sling loads of gear sit with a view of the park thrown suddenly into winter, 10/20.
Media teams and fire crews await the return of H-551 with the solo climber rescued from the Tempest, 10/20.
Camera crews pounce on the rescued climber, still chilled from weathering out the storm on the face, 10/20.
YOSAR gurus E. Visnovski and M. Braun move gear across a snowy El Cap summit, 10/20.
J. Hoeflich manages edge protection over the Never Neverland route on the second day of rescues, with H-551 and visitor vehicles below, 10/21.
Photo by N. Knight
Park Helitac crewmember directs H-551 in to the summit, 10/21.
Photo by B. Hergert
H-551 flies in over a wintery park, 10/21.
M. Marschall and B. Hergert manage the main line as rescuer B. Latham is lowered over the edge of the Salathe Wall, third day of rescues, 10/22.
SAR-siter G. Loniewski manages the prussiks as the team hauls up the rescuer and a stranded climber on the main line, 10/22.
Rescuer B. Latham (in purple) reaches the stranded climbing party on the Salathe, as seen through a spotting scope on the Valley floor, 10/22.
J. Hoeflich on the lip, managing edge protection on the Salathe, 10/22.
Rescue personnel back at the SAR Cache (L to R): P. Takeda of Rock and Ice Magazine, K. Lober, D. Mc Divit, W. Braun, J. Helling.
The Captain remains unmoved following three days of dramatic rescues, 10/22.
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