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Blue Lake incident (Sun 17 AUG 08)


Romfrantic

17-Aug-2008
4:34:47 PM

Hope all those involved are ok!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/one-missing-in-avalanche/2008/08/17/12189114\
39735.html

"One person has been trapped under ice by an avalance in the
Kosciuszko National Park in NSW this afternoon, sparking a major
rescue operation.

The accident, which occurred around 1pm in a climbing area about three
kilometres from Blue Lake, was caused by the collapse of a feature
known as an ice cornice, a police spokesman said.

An ice cornice is an overhanging crest of ice on a snow drift.

Other people in the area reported that one person was trapped.

A helicopter and foot search is now underway, police and ambulance
statements said.

Ambulance and Special Casualty Access Teams, a South Care Helicopter,
police and State Emergency Service personnel are heading to the remote
site"


Capt_mulch

17-Aug-2008
6:12:46 PM

Hi everyone!!!

This isn't actually Capt_Mulch - this is his cousin Brett (my Chockstone Handle is Mr Pip but my password escapes me right now...) I am posting to find out further details about this incident.

Capt_Mulch (Nick Reese) was actually Ice Climbing up at Blue Lake today and we are a bit worried about him and don't know how to confirm if he is alright etc

Any news or help in finding out if he is ok is much appreciated. Don't hesitate to call me on 0405 830 165 if possible.

Regards,

Brett


Sabu

17-Aug-2008
6:17:01 PM

This isn't looking good, hope chockstoners (capt_mulch) and others are safe.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=615932

Emergency officials remain pessimistic over hopes they will find a missing man after an avalanche in a popular ice-climbing area in Kosciuszko National Park.

Search and rescue personal ended their search at 6pm (AEST) and will reassess the situation tomorrow morning, according to a NSW Ambulance spokesman.

"There are grave concerns being held for the missing man and the conditions out there aren't great," the spokesman told ninemsn.

The accident occured after an ice cornice — an overhanging piece of ice on a snow drift — collapsed at around 2pm, a police spokeswoman said.

brendan

17-Aug-2008
6:57:33 PM

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24195300-29277,00.html

also two dead at perisher,

i hope Nick is ok

brendan

17-Aug-2008
7:02:22 PM

shit just found this, there reporting that the climber is dead
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24195309-29277,00.html


Capt_mulch

17-Aug-2008
8:05:01 PM

I have just spoken to Nick! He is in Jindabyne and on his way home now...

He will update further upon return I'm sure but thank you nonetheless for your concern and the calls, emails, pm's and text messages of support.

Our thoughts go out to the family of the climber involved.

Regards,

Brett


Sabu

17-Aug-2008
9:37:48 PM

On 17/08/2008 Capt_mulch wrote:
>I have just spoken to Nick! He is in Jindabyne and on his way home now...
>
>He will update further upon return I'm sure but thank you nonetheless
>for your concern and the calls, emails, pm's and text messages of support.
>
>Our thoughts go out to the family of the climber involved.
>
>Regards,
>
>Brett

Thanks for the update, a relief but also condolences to the friends and family of the climber involved.

climberman

17-Aug-2008
9:51:48 PM

absolutely f---ed news. ninemsn now reporting it was a skier, 24 yo from Wentworth Falls at Blue Lake.

Please be no one I (we) know.

Glad the Cap'n is OK.

FFS be careful folks...

onsight

17-Aug-2008
9:53:27 PM

Ditto Sabu. Good to hear Nick is OK. My condolences to the friends and family.

http://news.smh.com.au/national/avalanche-fatality-just-bad-luck-20080817-3x0u.html

Sounds like he was not a climber, perhaps.


Capt_mulch

17-Aug-2008
11:16:26 PM

The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I did witness the accident though. I had gone up to Blue Lake with a mate (Owen) and we were sitting having lunch at the eastern end (opposite the crags). We did not want to climb near the main buttresses as there were some massive cornices at the top. We then saw two guys (back country skiers) at the top of the crag near the biggest conice and watched one of them walk out onto the cornice - we remarked how fricken dangerous he was being when the conice collapsed and took him down with it, triggering a mega avalanche. We grabbed the snow shovel and bolted over to the spot - Owen then took off up the hill to get mobile reception - he is a trainee snow patroller and knew who to call and what to tell them. I ripped the basket off the bottom of my ski pole and started probing with the other guy (who turned out to be his brother) - he and I kept this up for about 45 mins with no other help at a frantic pace - very mindful that the clock was ticking. With the help of some other back country skiers who we yelled at for help, and finally a whole pile of ski patrollers / national parks people etc. we had a big probing line going. We kept this up for a few hours while the authorities made a road in from Charlottes with their snow grooming cats, and finally they started moving the snow away with the cats. Sadly, the young guy was found in the lower part of the avalanche under about 3 metres of snow.

climberman

18-Aug-2008
6:54:49 AM

Thanks for the report cap'n. I have skied that line quite a few times. Very sobering. Thoughts go out to the skier's friends and family. Well done to you and Owen for speedy assistance work.

Sally

18-Aug-2008
7:22:54 AM

Sorry you had such a hard weekend. Did you/they have avo gear/ transeivers?

Lhotse

18-Aug-2008
9:20:24 AM

Hope you are okay Capt.
Well done to you on acting so quickly, doing everything you could.


skink

18-Aug-2008
9:20:30 AM

On 17/08/2008 Capt_mulch wrote:
...
>Sadly, the young guy was
>found in the lower part of the avalanche under about 3 metres of snow.

Real sorry to read about this - well done for searching for so long - that would've been hard to bear knowing he was in there somewhere and with his brother in attendance. But 3m down... finding him without transceivers highly unlikely and probably very little chance of survival even if he had been wearing one.

Sad but reality unfortunately. Be careful out there.

JohnK

18-Aug-2008
9:34:00 AM

Very sad circumstances. Condolences to the family. Well done on the efforts Capt_mulch. Please take care out there everyone.


cruze

18-Aug-2008
9:56:18 AM

Well done Capt Mulch in very trying circumstances.

[Post edit having seen the facts clarified]


Capt_mulch

18-Aug-2008
10:19:13 AM

No avo gear, I don't think you expect it to happen in Australia. He did have an EPIRB though. We usually don't have enough snow to warrant taking avo transceivers - the main thing is to avoid the areas where there is the potential for avalanche. Also, from what I have heard, most avalanches in Australia are cornice avalanches, not the big slabby hill ones that they get in Europe / North America.


Sabu

18-Aug-2008
10:39:46 AM

This has been said before but nevertheless, well done for trying capt.


IdratherbeclimbingM9

18-Aug-2008
11:01:04 AM

This is sad news and I feel for family and friends of the young man.
I also feel for those who partook in the rescue effort, as dealing with trauma is never easy.


wallwombat

18-Aug-2008
11:13:35 AM

Holy hell!

I just bought the newspaper and thought you were cactus, Nic. I can't imagine Salome is going to give you a leave pass for a while. She must have been climbing the walls, thinking it was you.

Very sad news about the fatality.

There are 59 messages in this topic.