The old Inspecter Callaghan Quote " Do you feel lucky Punk ? " ...Has Direct Application at these Areas... The steep snow patch at Old Army Pass is Old Rescue Terms......." A classic Accident Waiting to happen " . It always amazed us when ordinary people in the town would not do something with Built in Risks resulting in Brutal Shredded Deaths ......until they put on a pack and venture into the Back country . That section on the OAP has and will be always a Steep Deadly Snow catch or Cornice section ( in Heavy snow years ) resulting in " Death Slide Number 1 " . Shepard's Pass ( Death slide number 2)has an Exact Duplicate section at the Top between the Teeth , one slip and good By World ! Also , Mt Whitney snow sections ( death slide number 3) with 99 switch back area , can and Will result in more Operations for us in SAR due to people numbers . It all depends on the wind and amount of snow BLOWN OVER the pass from the High Sierra 14,000 foot ridge and the Level of Testosterone . Some years nothing... some years ...Death Slide Number 1 . An Ice axe , crampons, or micro spikes are Extremely Light Weight Insurance for 20 minutes of Gut Retching Anxiety and probable Horrible Shredded Death or Injury ( if you are Lucky) upon slippage . So the question is simple.... " do you Gamble with your Life.... roll the dice......." Do you Feel Lucky Today " .... with Your One and Only Life ? We have all done it . It is just ... when we zip up the Body Bag .... There is " Complete SILENCE " other than the ZIPPER . For the Lads trip is over for GOOD. Just a Thought . gst
