Slipped down a gully descending Yahoo: learn from my mistakes

[kyrawhitworth]

hey kyra- thank you so much for sharing, and i'm glad you're okay!!

instagram heard me bitching about the broken set that i zip-tied together on sherman a couple years ago and directed me to kahtoola's website to get some renewed spikes for winter/spring: https://kahtoola.com/traction/renewed-m ... DZh96YyD0I

hold onto the dull ones for your summer scree set, though--

Whoa! I had no idea you could buy renewed/refurbished ones at a discount, great to know!

[Boggy B]

Glad you're ok, and thanks for sharing. Good points, and I think this is important also:

That gear choice should have played a larger role in the decision to take the gully (or to not take it)

Hoping to save time/vert/miles, deciding to check out an unknown alternative descent, not knowing or predicting the specific conditions, not bringing an axe and/or crampons--certainly factors, but not mistakes. The moment you sensed your capabilities (gear + skills + comfort, to generalize) were not adequate for the changing terrain and conditions but decided to proceed is what I'd zero in on. IMO this is key:

4. After the first couple steps where I noticed there was very little fluff and mostly crust, I did not re-evaluate. I wasn’t fully committed 15 feet down and likely could have up climbed and tried to take the rib instead or even better discuss the prospect of returning the way we came.

It sucks to be the one to say you're not comfortable with a given course, or to revisit a decision already made, to entertain a deficiency of skills or comfort (not unfamiliar to me as someone who is often the weakest link in the party), to consider backtracking and regaining a ton of vert, etc. The irony is equipment, proficiency, and experience--though useful and necessary--isn't actually what prevents accidents, it's training yourself to make the sh*tty, but correct, decision in spite of discomfort.


.. But of course your real mistake was considering Yahoo Mountain a worthy objective.

[kyrawhitworth]

It sucks to be the one to say you're not comfortable with a given course, or to revisit a decision already made, to entertain a deficiency of skills or comfort (not unfamiliar to me as someone who is often the weakest link in the party), to consider backtracking and regaining a ton of vert, etc. The irony is equipment, proficiency, and experience--though useful and necessary--isn't actually what prevents accidents, it's training yourself to make the sh*tty, but correct, decision in spite of discomfort.


.. But of course your real mistake was considering Yahoo Mountain a worthy objective.

This is so well put and I need this reminder in my head on all objectives-- Thank you. And yes, we even joked how silly it was to add on Yahoo just cuz it's there and save Eureka for a col climb.