We brought everything that a climbing team should bring: extra cloths, water food, compass, map, bug spray, sun screen, emergency blanket... etc. The list goes on. Would I have brought all of these things had I not been responsible for a client, the wonderful Eddie Mack, no? To Tell the truth I would bring them with a client, but Eddie brought them all. He even brought me, as always, a wonderful bag of treats from his wife Sheri.
Just like in carpentry tools will not build a house for you, just like survival tools will not keep you alive with out experience and know how. So what is the helicopter all about in the picture. MWV search and rescue, and fish and game were on the last day of their each for a 70 year old man who went missing eight days prior. It was assumed that they were searching for a body. It was also assumd that he did not have any of the essentials from the list above. The weather had been so retched for seven day that it was assumed that he could not be alive. The search was massive. At least, by my estimation, 50 search and rescue members where there including 20 or so high angle technical specialist from Mountain Rescue Service. On top of the man power they had this very intimidating helicopter circling very close.
When we topped out the ravine onto the Alpine Garden we were met face to face by this machine. At times it was so close that I could see the passengers face. I got me to thinking how lucky I am that I can go climbing for the day not having to worry about one of these scary machines chasing me shooting bullets. Some places in the world right now that same mechanism, built and operated by the USA is chasing people around and killing them. Just seeing it up there really brought reality together for me.
