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LEKI CEO dies in plane crash

I have mentioned many times that I don’t hike without using trekking poles. My poles of choice are LEKI. You can find them at most outfitters – they are the world’s leading maker of ski, trekking and Nordic walking poles. The name Leki is a contraction of Lenhart and Kircheim, the German city.

Karl Lenhart founded the company in 1948. Son Klaus took over the company in 1984 and continued the tradition of innovation. For example, Leki introduced the first adjustable trekking poles. They hold more patents in the pole field than any other company. Klaus Lenhart, the CEO of LEKI, Gmbh, died today in the German Black Forest. He was a passenger in his own airplane. It was piloted by a 24-year old friend. The had problems with its single engine after take-off and was attempting to return. The plane burst into flames killing Lenhart.

Wreckage of Leki stunt plane

The co-pilot was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries. Lenhart regularly flew his red stunt plane and was the German national aerobatics champion. The plane that crashed was an Extra 300SC aerobatic qualified aircraft. Lenhart was an avid pilot and used his skill to design industry …

Yosemite rivers flowing near peak

This is the time of year at YOSEMITE when the Merced is roaring. Many places are showing CLASS V rapids – meaning you are not going to survive if you fall in. It seems almost every year for the last few, someone has drowned near the Vernal Fall Footbridge. One slip and you are in 42 degree water that will suck you under.

Watch this new safety video the Park has produced. Let’s make 2012 the year with NO swift-water fatalities.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

Winds high at Yosemite – Man dies

27-yr old Ryan Hiller was asleep in his tent Cabin when high winds felled an old tree at the park. It was in an employee housing area. The park has not said exactly where this occurred.  The report said he was a DNC employee and a former ranger with search & rescue experience. He often assisted in Half Dome rescues. Further that he was staying at the “stables complex.” I don’t know of any tent cabins in that area.

This is the first death in 2012. 20 in 2011. Yikes.

A winter storm warning is up in the Sierra with snow and blowing conditions. Be careful. Four more months until the cables are up.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Well, the last thing I remember, Doc I started to swerve. And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve. I know I’ll never forget that horrible sight. I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right – You won’t come back from Dead Man’s Curve.” – Jan & Dean 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

BASE Yosemite

Editor’s Note:  My Carpe Diem quest finds me in Belize, borrowing the Radisson Hotel’s wifi. This is Maya country. There is jungle site called Altun Ha that has several old stone structures and a main temple 53 feet high.  We continue to head to the Panama Canal.

BASE = Bridges, Antennae, Structures and Earth. That’s what it stands for. Basically, parachuting off tall things and not out of an airplane. Despite the stunt of 4 people last year captured by National Geographic (in print and video),  it is illegal at Yosemite. Here’s why: 

In 1982 Jimmy Tyler, tried a jump off the face of Half Dome. He did it on a cloudy day with a slight wind. The breeze put him into the wall.

Ion 1988 Mitch Reno did the same and delayed opening his chute and impacted the talus just as his chute was rolling out.

In 1993, when Susan Oatly, jumped off El Cap. She held her head skyward for too long, lost altitude awareness, and backed into the wall in her 15th second of freefall. This jump began the process of insisting people who begin BASE jumping have at least 150 previous parachutes jumps.

The …

2011 Yosemite Deaths

The summer of 2011 was a tough one for Yosemite National Park. The number of deaths was very high at 20. 13 were classed as “traumatic.”  Here’s what went down:

* Man fell off Half Dome
* Teen dies from fall on Mist Trail
* Woman falls off Half Dome cables
* Three people go over Vernal Fall, 2 currently still missing
* Man dies after slipping into Merced at Mist Trail
* 2 men die after slipping off bridge at Hetch Hetchy, 1 currently still missing
* Man goes missing from Upper Yosemite Fall Trail, currently still missing
* Man has heart attack on Upper Yosemite Fall Trail
* Minor dies in car accident
* Man slips at Houskeeping Camp, hitting head on rock, later dies of injuries
* 7 die from natural causes

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Dead Man’s Curve, it’s no place to play. Dead Man’s Curve, you best keep away. Dead Man’s Curve, I can hear ‘em say. Won’t come back from Dead Man’s Curve.” - Jan & Dean 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

 …

Yosemite 2011 Retrospective

The summer of 2011 was a tough one for Yosemite National Park. The number of deaths was very high at 17. So what was up? Why so many? If we look at the causes of death, the high snowmelt and consequent big water in the rivers and waterfalls was a direct connection. Let’s take a look the 17.

* Man stepped or fell off Half Dome

* Teen dies from fall on Mist Trail

* Woman falls off Half Dome cables

* Three people go over Vernal Fall

* Man dies after slipping into

* Merced at Mist Trail

* 2 men die after slipping off bridge at Hetch Hetchy

* Man apparently fell into Yosemite Falls

* Man has heart attack on Yosemite

* Falls Trail

* Man dies in auto accident

* 5 die from natural causes

There are an average of 12 deaths per summer at the park. Between 2006 and 2010, 38 people died in the park and 1,225 more had to be rescued. So is 17deaths that many? Certainly, the high water cannot be ignored, but people slip every day. People make bad decisions, People do dumb things. The park finished 2010 with over …

Half Dome in 2012

Well well well….back at home in bed. Whew. I had a lot planned for Nov that is now cancelled. Today was going to be fun hike at the Pinnacles. Superb weather. So now I lay and wince. I pray I don;t get a cold. Sneezing would be really hard! Mrs Half Dome has done a stellar job nursing me. I am as helpless as a 2 yr old. Plus she works full time. Again, nice to know there are so many nice folks who read the FB and blog page. I’ll get back on track soon – I have a lot of bed time to look forward to. My goal is to be 100% in time for a JUNE HD hike. That;s a hard pull up. Ouch

We spent last night at the Hotel Charlotte in Groveland. Nice folks. Stop by and have dinner or just pet the dog, Goose. We ate din din with Scott Gehrman of Lasting Adventures. I have no appetite and still am in a fog.  The ride home was heaven in our Lexus – the seats were great. I am thinking of sleeping in it!

More Half Dome stuff as I recouperate. Don’t ignore …

Bodie crunch

Fans,

Saturday afternoon I crashed my motorcycle. I was heading into Bodie state park when I did not negotiate a hard left turn. the cycle slipped under me and went down a ravine. I rag-dolled and slid into a boulder then down the ravine. Broke collarbone, 8 ribs and knee. Now at Mammoth Hospital. 2 other guys were with me. Wife drove over from San Jose.  Plan is to ride home Sat.

It was a rental big Harley Electra Glide…850 pounds.  I had full coverage so I only owe them $1,000

OuchBodie…

Lighting at Yosemite

     The weather at the Park is stellar – about a week too late. The cables came down on Tuesday in half a day. The pipes and boards are now safely tucked away in their cave at the top.  They won’t be seen until late May 2012.  The last few days were pretty much of a bummer. Snows, winds and rain put the kibosh on many folks who were trying to squeeze in a hike last weekend.  So for 2012, I implore you to book your accommodations today. All you have to pay is your first night. I have already reserved for 5 trips. Trust me they book up fast. 

     Now a few words about lightning. It’s deadly. In July of 1985, five hikers ascended up Half Dome late in the day and met with tragedy from two ferocious lightning strikes. Their story is documented in the book, Shattered Air.  A True Account of Catastrophe and Courage on Yosemite’s Half Dome, by Bob Madgic (Burford Books). It recounts how the young men, full of enthusiasm and bravado, ignored nature’s warnings and hiked up the famed cable trail right into the vortex of a fierce thunderstorm. They took shelter …

Climber falls off Half Dome

To request, trade or give permits, Click HERE.

About a week ago, on September 19, an Austrian climber fell to his death off the face of Half Dome. Apparently, his rope was cut as he pulled off a block of granite to continue a maneuver. YOSAR was soon on the scene and were able to recover the individual. His partner self rescued and was at the base when YOSAR team members arrived. 

In happier news, on Friday the 16^th, Libby Sauter and Chantel Astorga set the women’s speed record for climbing up 3,000 foot El Capitan. Their time: 10 hours and 40 minutes. 

Rumor has it that we are in for a lottery system to get permits for Half Dome. Nothing official and no elaboration. We’ll see the Environmental Assessment with the alternatives soon. Real soon. Watch this blog for the release news. Budget some time to be sure and comment on it. Remember, one alternative will probably be to take the cables down. Gonna be tough on Mr Half Dome if they do! 

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Everybody needs beauty…places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and …