Killaine & I went to see the Smashing Pumpkins Monday evening at the PNE Forum here in Vancouver.
It was an excellent concert - they played many songs from their latest album, Zeitgeist.
The set list:
Superchrist
Doomsday Clock
Rocket
Drown
Bring the Light
Tonight, Tonight
Tarantula
Starz
Zero
Glass and the Ghost Children
To Sheila
1979
United States
That's the way
Hummer
Ava Adore
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Heavy Metal Machine
Unfortunately, the concert was not without incident. We found out later that night (after the concert) that someone had died at the concert. Initially it was suspected that it could have been from trauma in the mosh pit, but the coroner's report ruled this out.
Regardless - it was a great concert and a really good crowd. My ears stopped hurting later the next day. :-)
This weekend, I had an opportunity to attend a "Rope Rescue Team Member" course up in Squamish. This course is focused on rope systems to rescue and evacuate injured (or non-injured) subjects from vertical and steep ground. It focuses on accessing the subject from the top (i.e. lowering down to the subject). The rope systems used for this type of rescue are built quite differently from the systems used in rock climbing and mountain rescue - the primary difference is the requirement for a 10:1 safety margin - capable of a vertical raise of a subject & rescuer, or for a slope rescue of up to 6 rescuers carrying a subject in a stretcher.
Along with 5 members of North Shore Rescue (myself, Mike L., John B., Rich & Curtis), there were about 20 other members from other teams (Squamish, Lions Bay, Coquitlam, Ridge Meadows, etc.).
We spent the first day on the individual components of the rescue system. First, anchoring systems. Note the "high strength" anchors - the rope wrapped around the tree, and the "wrap 3, pull 2" webbing anchors - all equalized.
Then, we moved onto stretcher rigging. Here, Bob from North Shore Rescue (and a rope rescue instructor) explains a stretcher rigged for a vertical raise. It's worth noting that everyone tied into one of these systems always has both a belay and load connection.
And, the same stretcher rigged for a slope rescue.
Then, onto belay systems. The picture above shows a standard belay system, using tandem prussiks, and a radium release hitch used to lower the belay under tension if the system locks, or if a knot needs to be passed.
Then, it was on to raise/lower systems - 2:1, 5:1, 7:1, etc. raising systems.
Our instructor for this part - Mark - had a really good way of illustrating the forces created when using a pully to double forces - he used numbered clothes pegs to indicate the amount of force created by each part of the raise system.
The next day, we put the whole thing together in a few scenarios. The first scenario was a slope rescue - bringing a stretcher, subject & rescue team up a steep slope. The intent is that the raise system (and crew) exerts the power to bring the entire team up the slope - the rescuers thus "only" need to hold the stretcher up.
Then, onto a vertical lower/raise system. This picture shows the two edge people assisting the rescuer with the stretcher to get it over the edge.
Large pulleys are frequently used to ensure that the rope goes over the slope above the lip of the cliff, enabling the rescue team to be brought vertically upwards above the lip.
Finally, we also did a "pick-off" scenario, where a rescuer (me, in this case) is lowered down to the subject, clip the subject into the rescue system, and then the subject and rescuer are raised back up.
All in all, a very interesting weekend. Now, to become a full "rope rescue team member" requires another 20 hours of documented practice, followed by a weekend long exam in the spring.
Continuing in the tradition of easy (ish) hikes for the weekend, Killaine & I hiked up Mt. Strachan in Cypress Provincial Park. It was a misty day with light rain ... hiking up the gully towards the two peaks was quite beautiful, with the greenery of the ferns and plants with the mist below.
Not suprisingly, there was no view from the summit, so we lingered only for a short while then made our way back to the Cypress Ski Area, and back down to my truck.
Killaine was feeling a little off this weekend, so we did a couple of easy hikes. On Saturday, Killaine & I toodled out to Chihlliwack and did the 14km grinding climb up the logging roads (in the truck!) up to the trailhead, and then hiked up Mt. Cheam.
The weather was a little misty going up, but the higher clouds dissipated, and then we just had the clouds filling the valley beneath us.
It's a very easy hike up Mt. Cheam - it took around an hour and a bit or something from the parking lot. Trevor & I did try it late one season, and were turned back by blowing snow and wintery conditions.
You might remember the dog rescue that we did on Golden Ears a while back ... here's an update (and picture) from Kierstie on Tukker's progress:
I thought I'd send you an update on Tukker, since it's been quite some time since we've been in contact. He had his surgery August 22nd which involved a bone graft from his shoulder and a surgical steel plate inserted in his 'wrist' joint! The surgery took just over 2 hours. The reason we had to wait so long for the surgery was because he has an insane pain tolerance and gave no indication that the splint was wearing on his forearm, turns out it rubbed right down to the tendons so they had to repair that first!!! At the peak, he had about 30 stitches in his arm. He only spend a night at the vets and then he was able to come home, which has made the recovery period very interesting!! He has taken a real hate to the cone and when its put on his head he seems to think its a good idea to squeal it along the walls!! He should be completely healed and out of his cast by Thanksgiving!!! Poor guy!!
Killaine & I were invited by my colleague Andrew to sail up the Sunshine Coast on his sailboat over the long weekend.
Andrew's sailboat is the "Trident IV", a 42 foot sailboat made by Bavaria Yachts. Very comfortably outfitted, with a very cool control system, incorporating GPS, wind/air/water speed indicators in an integrated console by the helm.
To catch the tide currents, we left the marina at Granville Island in the early afternoon. We had a trailing wind out across English Bay - as we progressed up the coast, the winds were light, so we did a fair amount of motoring. Around 7pm that evening, we made anchorage in Smuggler's Cove and had an enjoyable evening of ship-made pizza, wine & many beers.
The next morning, we decided to head up the coast a bit further, then do a circumnavigation of Nelson Island - starting up through Argememnon Channel and hooking up in Jervis Inlet. Winds were once again light as we motored up the channel. But, as we passed the ferry terminal at Egmont, the winds picked up. Before we knew it, we were keeled over in Jervis Inlet, pulling 7 knots in a 10 or 12 knot wind - it was very, very cool being in a sailboat in the big, wide inlet - with the coast mountains reaching up out of the inlet. And, of course, keeled over was very exciting!
After a few tacks, we pulled into Blind Bay and made anchorage for the night in another quiet little cove. Pasta and (much) more beer was the order of the evening!
The next morning, we awoke up a little earlier, and headed back out into the channel east of Texada Island and headed back for Vancouver. The winds were initially very light, and we needed frequent use of the engine. However, the small craft warnings eventually came to fruition, and the winds slowly but steadily picked up as we passed Sechelt.
As we approached the opening into Howe Sound, the winds really came up - 20 knots and up to 25 knots! It was raining, and the waves built - all making for a very exciting ride. We fully reefed the jib and partially reefed the mainsail, and sped on a beam/close reach back into English Bay - where the winds finally lightened up, and we gently motored the last few miles into Granville Island.
... and, here's the video!
All-in-all, a very solid sailing experience! Many thanks to Andrew for taking Killaine & I out on his boat!
Millie and her new bicycle (from Dag!).
Millie helps (?) Killaine open her gift - a Fisher Price castle.
Sophie (left) with Dag's girlfriend Lynne with Owen & Sophie's two month old - baby Baxter.
Owen with Millie & Baxter.
Killaine's brother, Hugh, with Baxter.
Killaine's brother, Dag - as seen on TV.
Lynne & Vince Sharman (Killaine's Dad).
Birthday cupcakes for Millie!
Me and "mini-Me".
The set list:
Along with 5 members of North Shore Rescue (myself, Mike L., John B., Rich & Curtis), there were about 20 other members from other teams (Squamish, Lions Bay, Coquitlam, Ridge Meadows, etc.).
We spent the first day on the individual components of the rescue system. First, anchoring systems. Note the "high strength" anchors - the rope wrapped around the tree, and the "wrap 3, pull 2" webbing anchors - all equalized.
Then, we moved onto stretcher rigging. Here, Bob from North Shore Rescue (and a rope rescue instructor) explains a stretcher rigged for a vertical raise. It's worth noting that everyone tied into one of these systems always has both a belay and load connection.
And, the same stretcher rigged for a slope rescue.
Then, onto belay systems. The picture above shows a standard belay system, using tandem prussiks, and a radium release hitch used to lower the belay under tension if the system locks, or if a knot needs to be passed.
Then, it was on to raise/lower systems - 2:1, 5:1, 7:1, etc. raising systems.
Our instructor for this part - Mark - had a really good way of illustrating the forces created when using a pully to double forces - he used numbered clothes pegs to indicate the amount of force created by each part of the raise system.
The next day, we put the whole thing together in a few scenarios. The first scenario was a slope rescue - bringing a stretcher, subject & rescue team up a steep slope. The intent is that the raise system (and crew) exerts the power to bring the entire team up the slope - the rescuers thus "only" need to hold the stretcher up.
Then, onto a vertical lower/raise system. This picture shows the two edge people assisting the rescuer with the stretcher to get it over the edge.
Large pulleys are frequently used to ensure that the rope goes over the slope above the lip of the cliff, enabling the rescue team to be brought vertically upwards above the lip.
On Saturday, Killaine & I toodled out to Chihlliwack and did the 14km grinding climb up the logging roads (in the truck!) up to the trailhead, and then hiked up Mt. Cheam.
Cove and had an enjoyable evening of ship-made pizza, wine & many beers.
However, the small craft warnings eventually came to fruition, and the winds slowly but steadily picked up as we passed Sechelt.
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