PDA

View Full Version : Patty Rambert - God Speed



Iceaxe
06-02-2006, 02:03 PM
Many of you know Patty Rambert from ACA rendezvous, Tom Festival's or other canyoneering, hiking and climbing trips.

http://www.climber.org/WhosWho/images/Patty_Rambert.jpg

Patty Rambert died this week attempting to climb Mendel peak:

Report from Kurt Wedberg as of 3:00 pm on Thursday, June 1, 2006:

From Kurt: "I spoke with the Sheriff in Bishop this morning. Tina Bowman and Patty were climbing a route on the east side of Mt. Mendel. They ran into icy snow conditions that made them decide to turn around short of the summit. On the way down they were stopped and in the middle of scoping out their descent and Patty slipped on the snow. The snow conditions were described as being good and Patty yelled at least once but for some unknown reason she wasn't able to self arrest. She slid about 200 feet before launching over a cliff for another 100 feet. By the time Tina got to her Patty showed no signs of life.

Mt. Mendel is in the national park boundary so the search and rescue here in Bishop won't be involved unless they call for assistance. They will most likely bring a helicopter in with a crew who will need to move Patty to a better location to get picked up. I'm standing by in case we get called in to help but it doesn't look like they'll need it.

It's a sad day in the mountaineering world. She was a good friend and a lot of fun to be around. I am fortunate to say I was able to do a couple trips with her including an ascent of the North Couloir of North Peak.

Please keep her family and friends in your prayers. Ask for comfort and strength during this sad time. May the rescue workers remain safe and may her soul rest in peace. Her enthusiasm was always contagious and anyone fortunate enough to have known her will carry Patty with them wherever they go."

Kurt Wedberg

Sierra Mountaineering International
236 N Main St.
Bishop, CA 93514
Tel (760) 872-4929

accadacca
06-02-2006, 03:04 PM
R.I.P. that sucks! :cry:

Sombeech
06-02-2006, 03:39 PM
That's terrible news. Send our best to her family and friends.

Iceaxe
06-02-2006, 06:27 PM
Judy Rittenhouse belaying Patty Rambert below the summit of Mt. Humphreys.

http://www.rockclimbing.org/images/gallery/alpine_rock/humphreys.jpg

Alicia S. on rappel and Sharon T. with Patty on the front row in Pine Creek, Zion Natioal Park.

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/rave/0404zion/pin05.jpg


KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) - An experienced climber slipped and fell more than 300 feet to her death while trying to climb Mount Mendel, park officials said.

Patricia Rambert, 57, of Laguna Hills, and a climbing partner were trying to climb to the summit of the 13,710-foot mountain using a route on Mount Mendel's east face, but couldn't reach it because of snow and ice along the way, rangers said.

Her hiking partner, whose name has not been released, saw Rambert slip and fall on Wednesday. She climbed down, saw Rambert's body, and hiked out to inform the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, rangers said.

On Thursday, a three-person team of climbing rangers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks recovered Rambert's body.

The cause of the fall is still being investigated, rangers said.

rockgremlin
06-02-2006, 07:13 PM
Tragic....

Angel
06-05-2006, 02:04 PM
There will be a memorial gathering for Patty Rambert in Joshua Tree on Saturday, June 24. Details to follow.

:cry1:

Iceaxe
06-06-2006, 07:43 AM
NPS Morning Report

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Hiking Fatality on Mount Mendel

A 57-year-old woman from Laguna Hills, California, fell to her death on Mount Mendel in Kings Canyon National Park on Wednesday, May 31st. The woman and her hiking partner were attempting to climb to the 13,710-foot summit of Mount Mendel using a route on the East Face, rated a Class 3 climb. They were not able to reach the summit due to the poor snow conditions. The woman, an experienced mountaineer and a Sierra Club leader, slipped and fell more than 300 feet. Her hiking partner, also an experienced mountaineer, witnessed the fall. She climbed down to her partner and determined, to the best of her ability, that she had died in the fall. She then hiked out and reported the incident to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. The park received the report of the accident late on the evening of May 31st. The next day, a three-person team of rangers climbed to the scene to investigate the accident and recover the body. The cause of the fall is under investigation. [Submitted by Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]