Thread: Broken bike + nearly out of water = free heli evac.

Originally Posted by Tech Tonics

and it was 6:20 when they started and 8hrs later they called it in. so it was 2:20 in the afternoon? and when it was all said and done and they were rehydrated it wasn't even 4:30? It's summertime! they would've had 4 1/2 hours of light to get there asses home and tell all their friends about it and score mad poon for being so burly to hike their asses out for 15 hours.

It's been in the mid 90s the last few days there, and there's almost never any wind once you get that far inland. So it gets really fucking hot and dry back in the mountains. That's why those mountains burn almost every year. Also, there was a huge fire back there a couple of years back that killed a ton of vegetation. Plus, that time of day is when the heat really starts to kick in. From noon until early evening, it's brutally hot and smoggy there; which means that if you're starting to fall apart it's probably a good idea to start thinking about plan b. Would it have been better if they had manned up, kept going, and then fallen apart on a section of trail where there's no signal (which is very likely when you're back in the range behind Mt. Wilson). Look, they made a call, the call dropped, SAR responed, and they're safe. Everything worked properly and they're safe. That's all the matters.

[QUOTE=Canada1;3704438What's weird is that they called 911 instead of getting in touch with a friend? I'd only call 911 if it was serious crisis time.[/QUOTE]

It's possible that was the only number they could call. At least on T-mobile, I can be on top of Olympus or similar places with perfect line of sight to the SLC valley and full bars, but a crossed-out phone icon and "Emergency Calls Only" shows up on my phone. Presumably I have service but can only call 911 in these locales. I have no idea why that is.

Knowing nothing about the terrain they were in but having been lost in hikeabike terrain (i was in sneakers, but still), man the fuck up. 10 miles downhill? They be out by nightfall. Could probably even get that wheel spinning in some ghetto not so safe fashion.
Other than getting a ride back to my car that time I was lost, I have always made it home on my own power, and I'm a hudge pussy.

Sent from my cell phone. no, a cell phone.

Fucking Lame. The only thing worse is the guy felt the need to write a trip report about it.
Pussification of america continues.

I hear Arty50's points, and am personally very familiar with shit going wrong in extremely hot dry canyons, but this pretty much sums it up:

Originally Posted by Tech Tonics

mechanical issues? uncomfortable shoes? wife maybe worried? = pony up bitch, it's going to be a long fucking day.
.

Originally Posted by Dantheman

It's possible that was the only number they could call. At least on T-mobile, I can be on top of Olympus or similar places with perfect line of sight to the SLC valley and full bars, but a crossed-out phone icon and "Emergency Calls Only" shows up on my phone. Presumably I have service but can only call 911 in these locales. I have no idea why that is.

Thats odd, I have t mobile too and have made calls from just below the summit. I've received texts from the ridge between maybird and hogum, didnt feel like checking if I could call or send texts

Add me to the 'these two are pussies' group.

I don't care how steep, hot, smoggy or otherwise yucky the conditions might have been, they should have been carrying enough food, water and other gear to self rescue for anything less than major injury.

Shit happens on MTBs - part of what makes it interesting. Plan for it or dont go. No reason to call SAR unless there's major trauma- and 'I'm hot, tired and thirsty' doesn't count.

[/old school curmudgeon]

Disclaimer: I have had many, many long epic's with arty and many mechanicals, so i really trust his judgement and understand his points.

BUT, these guys just aren't gonna die from dehydration in this short a period of time. they shoulda stuck to the trail and hiked out. perhaps figured out a way to get the wheel spinning as stated above.

but calling SAR to confirm your position? they were hoping for a ride. fuck, just stick to the trail and hike out.

How could a new hub even completely seize?
How is that possible?
One must assume that one of these tools didn't build the wheel and that the hub was adjusted.
Take the fucking wheel out and make it spin. Hit it or something.

Idiot probably had the quick release on too tight or something. I mean, wouldn't it at least roll around that?

whoops, forgot about the "shredded" rear wheel. My other statements still stand.


And after clicking the link, I see that it was such an emergency, super rad d00d had his camera out the whole time.
What a tool. Harden the fuck up. Is it just reflexive for southern Californians to call 911 at the slightest inconvenience?

I have no sympathy for these dudes.

10 miles downhill? The guy with a working bike could have left some water with his friend, been down the trail in an hour, picked up some water, and started on the way back up to meet his buddy.

A few years ago skiing Mt Adams, my friends all ran out of water ~5 miles from the car, it was hot as fuck and slushy so it made for difficult progress. I left the rest of my water with my friends, jogged back to the car, and jogged back up the trail with a gallon jug of water and met my friends a few miles up. I'd say without bikes and with snow, it's about the same.

I know its fun to push your limits but it sounds like the real problem here is these guys didn't leave any gas in the tank for unforseen circumstances. In my experience, the *most* important safety gear is just leaving a little energy in reserve. All my dumbest sketchy moments were when I was completely exhausted.

Originally Posted by bagtagley

I couldn't get a signal to call the wife and tell her I wasn't gonna make it to Cracker Barrel, so she ate breakfast without me. Next time I'll text SAR and they can drop me off right at the restaurant.

Cracker Barrel? Really? At least she got to play the golf tee game while waiting for you.

Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

... Hit it or something.

heh. seriously though. it's a rare wheel that can't be made to coast down hill. I don't care how fucked it is.

Originally Posted by coreshot-tourettes

we were now faced with the prospect of having to hike out on foot, in cycling shoes and wheeling our bikes through some of the San Gabriel’s most rugged with limited water supplies and electrolytes........An LA County Sheriff paramedic rappelled down through the canopy onto the trail.......as it turns out, he was in much better position to assess the situation than we were. We were very dehydrated and quite sun-burned.

I'm calling 911 next time I get a sunburn too.
The only thing that would make this thread better is if someone had mistaken coreshot-tourettes as being the author rather than just the reporter. Or Spook adding his $0.02

Originally Posted by knumbskull

Hello 911, I just wanted to let you guys know I'm OK thanks!

FTW!

1) As stated before, ditch the bikes and hike out.
2) I want to have a beer with Tech Tonics.