On Rock: A grim reminder

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

By Kevin Pusey Jr.

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-The rescue last week in Grand Teton National Park involving 16 climbers caught in a fast moving lightning storm on the Grand Teton was both tragic and unfortunate. My heart goes to the friends and family of the climber that died, and others that were injured. Kudos, also, to all those involved in the rescue. Sadly, it is a grim reminder of how certain decisions need to be made when climbing in the Tetons, or other peaks, that will affect your climb.

Nineteen years to that day (July 20), I, too, was struck by lightning on the Grand. It was my second year working as a guide, and I was determined to get my three clients to the summit. Even though my party (62, 54 and 24 years old) was strong, we moved slowly. We reached the upper saddle at 12:30 p.m. Now that I know better, we should have turned around under sketchy skies. On the summit at 2:30 p.m., I saw a black storm cell heading our way, so I hustled the group down to the standard rappel. After setting up the ropes, we were slammed by a violent hail/lightning storm that lasted 45 minutes.

We tried to shelter ourselves by tucking in an alcove, but two of us were hit by a ground strike, which caused only minor injuries (my feet got burned). The storm rolled on, we rappelled, and eventually got back to the parking lot exhausted many hours later. That day I learned that climbing in the high peaks means pre-dawn starts, with constant evaluation of the weather, turning around if certain parts of the climb are not reached at a certain time and that turning around is not a negative option. Living to see another day is the positive option. Rock on!



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