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[pct-l] Rescue/CA fishing license



Hey, why not, I might as well join you Marge.

There has been a lot of joking about natural selection (at least I hope
it was joking!), not wanting to pay for idiot's mistakes, getting what
you deserve, etc. About 5-6 (?) years ago a group of us were climbing up
at Castle Rock at Big Bear. There is a fantastic wall there about 90 feet
high. While a couple of us climbed up around the back to put up the top
ropes, the rest waited for us down at the base. One of the guys, a fairly
novice climber, decided to do a little bouldering while he waited for us
to get the rope set up. We didn't know anything about it up top until we
heard a scream and a sick sounding thud. He had climbed up about 30+ feet
on an easy route and then it got harder and he decided he better go back
down. As most climbers soon learn, it is usually easier to climb up then
to climb down. He slipped and fell from about 30 feet, bounced off a
ledge at 15 feet and fell on the rocks at the base. It was a miracle that
he didn't hit his head but did break some ribs, puncture a lung, receive
a compound fracture on one ankle and severely sprain the other (and a
broken arm? Can't remember all the details). When we got down, he was
gasping for breath, in terrible pain and going into shock. We had a
marathon trail runner with us, she ran down 2 miles or so to a phone,
called Big Bear Fire & Rescue, ran back up to tell us they were on the
way and then ran back down to meet them and guide them back up. They
brought an oxygen tank, treated him as much as possible and put him on a
stretcher. We carried him to a clearing on a small hill and waited for
the helicopter. After awhile the radio reported that the helicopter would
be delayed due to another rescue on the other side of Big Bear. As our
friend ran down to get another oxygen tank off the fire truck (and run
back up with it!), we watched him almost die waiting for the helicopter.
You know, we weren't telling him how stupid he was or that he deserved to
die. We were yelling at him to keep fighting to stay alive, reminding him
that his two little girls needed him (his wife was killed in a fireball
when a car crashed into the gas pump as she was filling her car, a couple
of years before that). When the helicopter finally got there, we watched
as they hoisted him up and flew away. All we could do was pray that he
would live until they got to the hospital in San Bernardino. He did live
and recovered fully, thanks to a great rescue team, doctors and other
hospital staff, friends that supported and encouraged him and the grace
of God who watches over all of us fools when we do stupid things or just
have "accidents".

Thanks Marge, you must have been a good Mom. What are we teaching our
kids (or grand kids)? Looks like Dude got the message.

Peace and God bless,

Vic