Chockstone Forum

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

Chockstone Photography

Australian Landscape Prints

Chockstone Forum - Accidents & Injuries

Report Accidents and Injuries

Topic Date User

Fox neve avalanche 21-Nov-2006 At 12:58:49 PM prb

Message

Well done for surviving that one vwills - they'll be a book and film deal in it for sure. Imagine Simpson's trip report had Chockstone existed in 1985!

Your experience reminded me of a day I had on the Ober Gabelhorn, a case of enthusiasm almost overriding experience. I thought I would test myself by soloing the WSW ridge. I missed the snow ramp access to the ridge and traversed too far R. I then headed up the S face (the Australian route?) which was a few hundred metres of rock to ~grade 12, finally gaining the ridge not far from the summit. It was getting late and the weather was deteriorating. I then made two really good decisions (unusual for me) - forget about the summit and go back the way I came. I seriously considered heading down the ridge trying to pick up the ramp which, if all had gone well, would've been quicker than abseiling the face. But that's a big "if". I think I'd say "better the devil you know" in such situations.

Maybe you should climb somewhere like Moonarie soon - very unlikely to strike snow there. Routes like Downwind and Dry Land have your name on them!