Drive By Emergency Tube

As climbers we put ourselves in a dangerous position.  We rely on ourselves, our equipment, and our climbing partner each and every time we climb. We don’t expect bad things to happen, however sometime accidents happen.  A few months ago our community experienced a tragedy at the Darkside.

The night of the accident I had a chance to talk with climbers that were at the cliff that day.  Through our discussions, I felt pain of my friends, as we searched for the why.

That night everyone was shaken, but I asked questions looking for ways that the RRGCC could help. There is little that the RRGCC can do to prevent accidents. When I asked what could have been better, here is what they said:

1. “We did not know who to call or what the phone number was
2. We did not know what county we were in
3. Even though we sent a runner out to meet the ambulance, they missed each other
4. We did not know how to explain to the Rescue Squad where we were in terms that they understood
5. The Rescue Squad did not know where the Darkside was  . . . “

Fundamentally all those concerns are related to education.  Education is something the RRGCC can help improve.

As climbers we name cliffs for things that make sense to us.  The solar collector is sunny, roadside is next to the road etc the darkside is shaded from the sun.  However these cliff and hollows had names years before climbers showed up.  When climbers call for rescue it is unreasonable to expect search and rescue personnel to know locations in our terms.  We have to explain our locations in term that are known to the locals that are coming to save our ass.  The RRGCC can provide this information as well as phone numbers to climbers.  The most effective place to provide this information is at the scene, at the cliff.

The biggest problem with instructions at the cliff is keeping the instructions dry yet accessible in the event of emergency.  The RRGCC developed an idea for keeping emergency instructions at the cliff, using PVC tubes as storage (poop tubes).  We shared this idea with Rick Weber.  He implemented the idea soon several EMERGENCY INSTRUCTION tubes are installed at the Muir Valley.  Rick has graciously provided labels for tubes that have been installed at the PMRP.

Now that we had a storage idea we needed to develop those instructions.  For this we had to decide what information we needed to provide.  Our decision was that the RRGCC should not provide medical instructions but should provide instructions to facilitate speedy arrival of medical rescue personnel to the parking lot.  From the parking lot climbers must help the rescue personnel to the cliff. Here is the information that will be in the tubes.

Emergency Map
Emergency Instructions

The above should help address the first 3 concerns mentioned that night.  For the fourth concern, we decided to ask Lee County what information they needed to provide the best response to climber accidents.  Based on those discussions, the RRGCC developed and have provided the following information the search and rescue squad of Lee County:

1. Written directions to all the parking lots in the PMRP
2. A map with all the major crags and parking lots of the PMRP labeled and arrows showing the most reasonable approach to the parking lots and meeting place for the ambulance.
3. GPS coordinates of all the major crags at the PMRP
4. The copies of the guide book to provide additional information about the area.

Emergency Maps
Lee County Driving Directions

During Rocktoberfest weekend the RRGCC installed 7 tubes in the southern region.

We ask just a few things of all the climbers of the Red River Gorge:

• Please do not steal these tubes.  The RRGCC will probably not make replacements in the event that these are stolen.
• Please keep the cap closed.  Water is the enemy.
• Please do not take the instructions out of the tube unless there is an emergency. Click on the links to see what is inside.
• Please do not put other stuff in the tubes.
• Please let other climbers know what those tubes are all about.

Making this all happen takes a ton of effort.  Several people have worked on or provided input to this project.

Thank you to all:

We are still looking for the why, something to make ourselves feel less exposed.  We will probably never know exactly what happened. However consider being a little more reserved, check each other and be more attentive at the belay.
Try Hard.  Have Fun.  Take Care.

Smile

Rick Bost
RRGCC

This past year had a lot of exciting happenings for the RRGCC.

The year began with a large ice storm.  Bill Strachan worked with 5 climber volunteers and three US Forrest Service personnel.   On February 21, 2009 they cleared storm damage in Martin’s Fork area, which includes the approaches to Military and Left Flank.

Todd McCormick and the University of Pittsburgh hosted a climbing competition to raise funds for the RRGCC.  Their event raised $1,125!

On April 11, 2009, Miguel’s hosted Red River Reunion to benefit the RRGCC.  The event included a shoe demo by 5.10, climbing competition at Torrent Falls, Rodeo Clip contest, as well as booths by 5.10, Petzl, & Black Diamond. The evening ended with the Stone Alliance Film Tour, music and, of course, a giant bonfire.  The event raised over $500 for the RRGCC.

This year, we kicked off our grassroots, community-led trail program. Rather than rely on one large trail day to accomplish much needed work, the climbing community broke the work up into smaller chunks, maintaining their crags with smaller, more focused trail days.

Jack Dickey got us started with the Spring Trail Day on April 18, 2009.  He headed up a crew of 16 volunteers and tackled projects in Sore Heel Hollow.   The trail crew repaired trails damaged by the winter ice storm.  They began stabilizing and reclaiming the denuded hillside leading down to the parking lot and made a specific path for trail that traverses top of said hillside.  They built stairs for the beginning of that trail.  In addition, they improved the bridge to the Gallery and built a new bridge on the trail to What About Bob Wall.

Phillip Gall’s partnered with Patagonia’s 1% program. They raised more than $1200  for the Coalition in 2009 in addition to several generous gear donations!

On June 13, 2009, Mike Driskell and Driskell Home Repair continued the trail day initiative by conducting a trail day at Roadside.  He and his crew were able to remove downed trees that had fallen across the trail, relocate and widen the start of the trail.  They then added stairs to the beginning of the trail and added water breaks to the new trail and portions of the existing trail.

We made our $30,000 mortgage payment on July 15,  2009.

On August 1, 2009, the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition hosted their most successful trail day event in their 13-year history. Over 90 people came together to lend their skills and talent to developing new trails, and rehabbing existing pathways on the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve. Additionally, the trail day most certainly ranks as one of the largest Access Fund sponsored Adopt-A-Crag events in 2009!  Work was accomplished in Sore Heel as well as at Darkside, Drive-By, Bob Marley, and Crossroads.  Afterwards, the volunteers enjoyed live music, food, beer, and the 100-foot-long slip-n-slide!  Special thanks goes to Sandy Davies for organizing this event.

In other exciting news, for the first time ever the Johnny and Alex Trail Day raised money for the coalition, both in private donations and sales at the event.  The event raised $800!  These funds and donations of goods and services from our generous sponsors financed that great party.

Red River Outdoors partnered with Mountain Gear’s to host their U-Climb clinic.  It was held on September 12 & 13, 2009, and both Mountain Gear and Red River Outdoors donated proceeds to the RRGCC.

Then, on September 26, 2009 RockQuest Climbing Center & Benchmark Outfitter put together a climbing competition to benefit the RRGCC. Climbers competed for excellent prizes from vendors like The Benchmark Outfitter, Sterling Ropes, Arc’Teryx, and La Sportiva.  The event raised $500 for the RRGCC!

Finally, the RRGCC wrapped up the year with their 9^th annual Rocktoberfest on October 9-11, 2009.  The event kicked off on a rainy Friday with vendors, a dyno comp, movies, milk crate stacking, funnel cakes, games, and a great DJ.  On Saturday, the rain held off for the climbing comp in Sore Heel.  This was followed by water balloon launching contest, dyno comp, dunk tank, a milk crate stacking challenge, movies, live entertainment, and vendor giveaways and raffles.  The event raised $12,500 for the RRGCC.

As of right now, we have only four annual payments, approximately $118,000, left before we’ve fully paid off the mortgage.  We’re all counting down to our last payment on July 2013. Thank you for your help and we look forward to owning the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve!

September 26th at Rockquest, Cincinnati: Benchmark Outfitters will put on a comp to benefit the RRGCC

This September 26 in Cincinnati, at RockQuest Climbing Center, Benchmark Outfitter is putting together a climbing competition to benefit the RRGCC. Starting at 5pm, climbers will compete for excellent prizes from vendors like The Benchmark Outfitter, Sterling Ropes, Arc’Teryx, and La Sportiva. And while they’re pulling down, the $25 entrance fee will go to support the RRGCC in our mission to secure the PMRP.

Don’t miss out on a great chance to have a blast and support the Coaltion at the same time!

For more information, call 513-791-WILD (9453). Or check them out Benchmark Outfitters on Facebook.