[MCR] Gooseberry rock fall

Subject: [MCR] Gooseberry rock fall
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:19:18 -0600

FYI
 
While guiding “Gooseberry” on Buffalo Mountain today, we had a near miss.
 
Just before my second left the belay on the second last pitch, a significant rock fall event occured.  A refrigerator size block calved off the rock face 20m above the belay ledge.  Luckily the rock collided with the belay ledge approx 5m to the right of him, breaking apart and sending A LOT of rockfall down the face, peppering the entire route and then some.  From the angle of my belay, i could not see the entire area from which it originated, so do not know if there is any hangfire remaining.  This close call made me ill.  I have been hearing about other significant rock fall events this season.
 
 Play safe,
 
 
Kristopher Irwin
AAG
403.763.7018
Banff
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