Threads related to Colorado mountaineering accidents but please keep it civil and respectful. Friends and relatives of fallen climbers will be reading these posts.
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Please be respectful when posting - family and friends of fallen climbers might be reading this forum.
Sebastian61818 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2026 8:11 am
All i can say is this was me and it was a waste of sars time at the end of the day and i feel bad about it.
I'm sure they feel like it was less of a time waste than another unprepared hiker losing their shoes. This kind of thing is exactly why they are there. Every SAR call gets a lot of hate but in reality nobody knows the real story, and it's easy to make bad calls sometimes. I was involved with a SAR call for some other members of my party once, it's never fun but the important thing is that everyone ended up ok.
I have to ask, did you actually down climb the 5.9 pitch? That's baller
Sebastian61818 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2026 10:36 am
I wasn’t free soloing or rock climbing it. I was rope soloing and drytooling
Very impressive attempt - sounds like you were making a solid and prepared effort at a really challenging route - no shame in that.
As others have said, it's far better to make the call and later realize it might not have been as needed as first thought than to continually delay to the point of putting yourself and SAR into extreme risk.
Glad you got out ok. Stinks that you didn't get the summit - that would have been an epic finish to winter - but better to live and fight another day. Don't beat yourself up too bad - when things don't go as plan, learn and move on.
And if at some point you feel like passing along any learning that may have occurred by sharing details, I'm sure many folks on this site would be fascinated by reading an eventual trip report. It's often the climbs that don't go as planned that teach us the most.
gb wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2026 9:58 am
I should just let Sebastian61818 answer, but the route is known as being pretty chossy. So one strategy is to do it in the winter when everything is glued together with ice. That's why some of the first ascents on Cap's North face as well as Pyramid's North face were done in winter. Names like Stammberger, Kennedy, and Dawson...
The winter attempts of Pyramid's north face were fascinating to read about, thank you for reminding me about those.
RIP - M56
Re-introduce Grizzly Bears into the Colorado Wilderness™
Sebastian61818 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2026 8:11 am
All i can say is this was me and it was a waste of sars time at the end of the day and i feel bad about it.
Things happen. Glad you are ok!
The summit is a source of power. The long view gives one knowledge and time to prepare. The summit, by virtue of the dizzying exposure, leaves one vulnerable. A bit of confidence and a dash of humility is all we get for our work. Yet to share these moments with friends is to be human. C. Anker
Sebastian61818 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2026 8:11 am
All i can say is this was me and it was a waste of sars time at the end of the day and i feel bad about it.
Obviously I don't know the details, but if calling SAR when you did prevented them from having to rescue you injured or do a body recovery, it was not a waste of their time whatsoever. I'm sure some mistakes were made that got you into a situation requiring rescue, but realizing you're in over your head and need help before downclimbing to your death is one decision you should applaud yourself for. Glad you're ok.
After thinking this through, I agree with this poster. Much better to call SAR than to not call and end up with a body recovery.
I have withdrawn my previous post, which I now realize was too judgmental.
