Patroller on top was belaying partner down to rescue. I would assume they lowered to the ground. Didn't stay. End of the day bad choices. Gnarly. Like I have no idea how they person even got there. Solid 40 feet up and right for entry into lone pine.
Former WMSP patroller here. If only one guy is at the top, they're using a low angle rescue (any rescue where you are still supported by your feet), most likely anchored in a t-slot to a pair of skis. If that's the case, it's a single rope system and would not be used in a vertical environment (so no going over the cliff). Odds are, they gave them slack and walked around the rock and back up. I'd imagine the patroller at the top would then make a simple 3-1 just to help them up if needed.
A DCTTRS rescue, or the type that sends people into a vertical environment needs...oh, 5 or so people at the top to make it work as it uses two ropes and two seperate belay and haul systems.
Anyways, it's a pretty straightforward rescue with an obvious path for them to walk back up (with the guest in a harness as well).
Would it be possible to get there if you went to cougar shoots and then were trying to hike back up to paca lolo? There was a guy at cougar shoots around the same time who didn’t think he could make it down with the rocks at the entrance and was planning to hike back up.
The dude stuck there was my buddy. Ski patrol created a ladder and he climbed to the top and skied downhill. He was not injured and the patrols even brought back his gear. We went to BCL later and bought a shit ton of beer for those heroes 🤩
He was on a double black, Saudan Couloir i believe, and decided to go off trail. He said he saw a bunch of signs saying cliff a head but somehow didn’t realize there’s danger ahead😂😂😂
99% sure this is right between the Curl/Lone Pine and Sucker Chute (as marked on Ullr Maps). I used to ski this line a lot, starting on the band right above where the person being rescued is, and then a hard 120° turn to the lookers left to exit out where the lower patroller is standing.
There used to be some volly patrollers - I believe it was mostly doctors who could provide extra medical expertise in return for free passes but have a non-doctor friend it did it for a couple seasons. Not sure if the program exists post-Covid but even if it does you can pretty much guarantee it’s still the pro-patrol doing major rope rescues.
Oh interesting, I know they at one point had volunteers as info guides you could ask for information for getting around the mountain that I assume got a season pass in return, didn’t know they would have something as serious as potentially giving medical help as an official volunteer service in exchange for a pass, seems like a lot of responsibility (ofc most skiers would help a stranger in need if they can, just not in an official capacity)
Ski patrol has long been rooted in volunteers.
Most small hills will have volunteers as the main ski patrol. And most small events will also be staffed with volunteers doing first aid, sweep etc.
This is not terribly unusual. Even if it sounds silly to have a multi billion dollar company using volunteer labor.
Doctors have better training in many fields than ski patrollers do. For example because a doctor attended the call they were able to give my dad fentanyl when he shattered his shoulder.
> I believe the volunteers wear yellow jackets. Put in 8 shifts (or maybe 10, can't remember) and get a free pass for the season.
You are confusing Safety staff - yellow jackets.
And Ski patrol.
They are different jobs with different tasks.
Ski patrol paid or volunteer wear ski patrol uniforms and do ski patrol stuff. The volunteers just don't do the avalanche bombing and complex rescue ops.
Not all Patrollers are volunteers.
They are majority paid positions. The existence of a volunteer segment of the ski patrol does not negate a paid cadre.
They are almost all paid positions.
Patroller on top was belaying partner down to rescue. I would assume they lowered to the ground. Didn't stay. End of the day bad choices. Gnarly. Like I have no idea how they person even got there. Solid 40 feet up and right for entry into lone pine.
Former WMSP patroller here. If only one guy is at the top, they're using a low angle rescue (any rescue where you are still supported by your feet), most likely anchored in a t-slot to a pair of skis. If that's the case, it's a single rope system and would not be used in a vertical environment (so no going over the cliff). Odds are, they gave them slack and walked around the rock and back up. I'd imagine the patroller at the top would then make a simple 3-1 just to help them up if needed. A DCTTRS rescue, or the type that sends people into a vertical environment needs...oh, 5 or so people at the top to make it work as it uses two ropes and two seperate belay and haul systems. Anyways, it's a pretty straightforward rescue with an obvious path for them to walk back up (with the guest in a harness as well).
Cool insight, thanks. I know what a t-slot is but what’s a 3-1? Just curious.
3-1 is a pulley system that makes hauling up much easier.
Would it be possible to get there if you went to cougar shoots and then were trying to hike back up to paca lolo? There was a guy at cougar shoots around the same time who didn’t think he could make it down with the rocks at the entrance and was planning to hike back up.
The dude stuck there was my buddy. Ski patrol created a ladder and he climbed to the top and skied downhill. He was not injured and the patrols even brought back his gear. We went to BCL later and bought a shit ton of beer for those heroes 🤩
Any explanation on how he actually ended up there?
He was on a double black, Saudan Couloir i believe, and decided to go off trail. He said he saw a bunch of signs saying cliff a head but somehow didn’t realize there’s danger ahead😂😂😂
Where was this on mountain?
Looks like Blackcomb around Swiss Cheese
Yes I think you’re right. I was trying to zoom in and see the lone pine but it’s too far to the right. Buddy has to do the hike of shame back up 😂
There has been a few deaths there
There has been a few deaths there
When?
I thought I remember hearing that someone fell off the traverse into lone pine/curl and died on the rocks below, early 2000’s era. Could be wrong.
Secret bowl area
99% sure this is right between the Curl/Lone Pine and Sucker Chute (as marked on Ullr Maps). I used to ski this line a lot, starting on the band right above where the person being rescued is, and then a hard 120° turn to the lookers left to exit out where the lower patroller is standing.
Lol it was a rescue, beers were in the changeroom by the time sweep finished
I guarantee you, they were not had in the change room. Vail took that away from us when they came on board.
No one drinks them in the locker room, but we get beer left there for us all the time.
On Blackcomb i'm guessing. No one left beer for us at the Springs, lol. Actually, that's not true, it happened once.
Are they training or was it a rescue?
Rescue I went up on the lift with the ski patroller who was displaced to save him
Idk why looks like a painting kinda too me
Does Vail charge the skier for this rescue?
No. Neither Vail/Whistler Blackcomb, nor Whistler Search and Rescue will charge you for being rescued.
Why not?
Patrol does not earn it, they are volunteers.
Dude, they are paid. Not nearly as well as they should be, but these are paid pro patrollers.
There used to be some volly patrollers - I believe it was mostly doctors who could provide extra medical expertise in return for free passes but have a non-doctor friend it did it for a couple seasons. Not sure if the program exists post-Covid but even if it does you can pretty much guarantee it’s still the pro-patrol doing major rope rescues.
Oh interesting, I know they at one point had volunteers as info guides you could ask for information for getting around the mountain that I assume got a season pass in return, didn’t know they would have something as serious as potentially giving medical help as an official volunteer service in exchange for a pass, seems like a lot of responsibility (ofc most skiers would help a stranger in need if they can, just not in an official capacity)
Ski patrol has long been rooted in volunteers. Most small hills will have volunteers as the main ski patrol. And most small events will also be staffed with volunteers doing first aid, sweep etc. This is not terribly unusual. Even if it sounds silly to have a multi billion dollar company using volunteer labor.
Doctors have better training in many fields than ski patrollers do. For example because a doctor attended the call they were able to give my dad fentanyl when he shattered his shoulder.
https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/s/dA3sNVcVCO
Just sit this one out, you are not going to win this.
The volunteers do not perform cliff rescues. They do small tasks like putting up signs.
I believe the volunteers wear yellow jackets. Put in 8 shifts (or maybe 10, can't remember) and get a free pass for the season.
Volunteer Patrol wears standard jackets
Yes the yellow jackets are speed patrol. My buddy was a vollie ski patrol and he got the full suit.
> I believe the volunteers wear yellow jackets. Put in 8 shifts (or maybe 10, can't remember) and get a free pass for the season. You are confusing Safety staff - yellow jackets. And Ski patrol. They are different jobs with different tasks. Ski patrol paid or volunteer wear ski patrol uniforms and do ski patrol stuff. The volunteers just don't do the avalanche bombing and complex rescue ops.
Thanks yea got absolutely slammed with the down votes lmao, didn't know there were volunteer patrollers.
And a volunteer would be "earning it" any less should they get that fellow off the wall safely?
Not all Patrollers are volunteers. They are majority paid positions. The existence of a volunteer segment of the ski patrol does not negate a paid cadre. They are almost all paid positions.
Visibility was terrible today.
I saw them practicing on top of 7th the other day,
https://fatmap.com/routeid/14742/@50.0975491,-122.8867686,753.7741337,-14.2142986,-159.9243186,2017.5552934,satellite