I’m going to post a “How to second an ice climb” STICKSSS trip, probably early January. I’ve done it before, and it’s usually pretty fun. The idea is to go to the Junkyards, and practice seconding skills (cleaning screws without dropping them, climbing with a pack, efficient multipitch transitions, rappelling, and whatever else the other leaders would be keen to share).
The ratio will be 1 leader to 2 participants, so however many leaders we get will determine how many participants we get. Anybody keen to co-lead? I can be pretty flexible on dates, so if you are interested to help out, just let me know when works best for you.
Leaders should be willing to lead the WI 2 terrain around the Junkyards, be able to set a good anchor.
Apparently the Murder-Bird evil grouse and rockfall aren’t enough to scare Phil away, since he’s attempting this route again for Rock Review. So, Julie, you should be able to hear the story of the route around the campfire in just over a week!
This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by Susan.
We are so are lucky to have such a stellar backyard to play in, but doubly lucky to have the amazing guys with the Kananaskis Public Safety Section (and Parks Canada too!).
Every time someone needs help out in the mountains, it often isn’t long before some members of the general public start to wonder, “who pays for the rescue?”. My usual response is that as a member of a functioning society I am willing to have my taxes & park fees pay for rescue & care of my fellow humans who are injured in any number of events (regardless of whether errors in judgement were made) such as car crashes, hiking accidents, and even those whose unhealthly lifestyles result in massive health care bills. Early rescues are more effective, less costly, and most importantly they are safer for the rescuers than those that are delayed by people in distress trying to avoid the potential cost of a rescue.
Here is an article by the American Alpine Club that explores the costs of park rescues, and the conclusion was that while climbing rescues often can be dramatic, they account for a small fraction of the rescue costs compared to other park users.
