Anyone else see the CF "rescue" practice this weekend at Devils Lake?

Yes both days we had the misfortune of running into these guys.. saturday they were simulating their "rescues" right next to son of a great chimney while we were climbing in the lost face area, and then sunday they decided to do their thing right down the main face of pedestal buttress. I truly hope no one ever needs these guys for a real rescue... might be better off calling a buddy...... even if they live in chicago. =)

Just sayin'

CF?

I assume they were pulling across the trail again?

Gotta say, their ability to get people out is much better than it was 15 years ago. I just wish they wouldn't do weekend practices in high traffic areas where they would never actually lift someone out (at the Pedestal, you would just walk around on the asphalt trail!).

cluster f*ck

Gotch ya.

Doug Hemken wrote:I assume they were pulling across the trail again? Gotta say, their ability to get people out is much better than it was 15 years ago. I just wish they wouldn't do weekend practices in high traffic areas where they would never actually lift someone out (at the Pedestal, you would just walk around on the asphalt trail!).

yep across trails on both bluffs, yelling/screaming, etc. I have to imagine it would take somewhere in the time frame of 8-10 hours for them to complete a real vertical rescue. Watching was a good reminder to review self rescue skills!

Isn't all of DL single pitch with top access? What would they need those skills for?

Yes DL is all single pitch TR with access trails going to the base of the cliff bans.

Sometimes it easier and safer for them to do a vertical lift up a cliff face than having 6 people carrying a litter along a narrow trail with a drop off or a boulder field.

Nick Mardirosian wrote: yep across trails on both bluffs, yelling/screaming, etc. I have to imagine it would take somewhere in the time frame of 8-10 hours for them to complete a real vertical rescue. Watching was a good reminder to review self rescue skills!

By climbing partner was hurt when he took a fall and had a 4' block land on his head.

mountainproject.com/v/dl-ac…

First responders were there with in 15-20mins at the top. Paramedic was lowered with in 25-30mins. They had him at the top of the bluff at about 45-50 minutes and at the hospital at just over an hour. Granted the location of the accident was 40' from the firebox and fire access road at the top for the west bluff.

In all there were about 20-30 ranges, paramedic, and fire fighters.

They did great job!

sunder wrote: By climbing partner was hurt when he took a fall and had a 4' block land on his head. mountainproject.com/v/dl-ac… First responders were there with in 15-20mins at the top. Paramedic was lowered with in 25-30mins. They had him at the top of the bluff at about 45-50 minutes and at the hospital at just over an hour. Granted the location of the accident was 40' from the firebox and fire access road at the top for the west bluff. In all there were about 20-30 ranges, paramedic, and fire fighters. They did great job!

That wasn't a high angle rescue though which is what they were practicing. Like someone stuck halfway up the cliff face. Lowering rescuer, basket, bla bla bla.

And that was probably the most complicated rescue of a technical climber last year. Rescues from the boulder fields are probably logistically hardest for them?

Yes, the full scale Baraboo-plus-Sauk practices are a mess, but *somebody* is learning good stuff from it. I would rather they practiced better, but I'm glad they practice.

Im glad they practice too. Rescues mid up up a route are a little harder.

When the accident occurred I already had all the bleeding stop with in about 5 minutes. So the paramedic check him over and started an IV. Probaly the longest lift sitting about 80' Tall too for the year.

The paramedic that did our rescue said that that have quite a few rescues. Mostly hikers that try to climb and get hurt and other medical emergencys. Only a hand full of climbers a year.

They were on the East Bluffs a couple of weeks ago. Personally I'm happy to see these people learning some vertical skills.

It seems that they practice in areas that they can easily drive up to.

I'm not saying rescuers are bad, but what they're learning is archaic. For example tying in with a double (bunny ear) figure 8 to have two points, still using a rack to descend with when an ID is much more efficient and easier to use, taking carabiners out of service because they were dropped, having to have all your knots triple checked (by two different people), etc. I guess it just bothers me because they still practice techniques used 15 years ago.