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sallyj
Oct 26, 2007, 8:09 AM
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Yesterday afternoon, I was at Cape Hauy ( Location of the now world famous Totem Pole ) . Two young Californians, Peter Drummond & Casey Giles , were standing on the big belay ledge at the top of the first pitch, when I heard a LOUD !!! cracking sound. I turn around just as the top 40 odd metres of the Totem Pole began to fall over and crash spectacularly into the chasm , between Cape Hauy and the Candle Stick .
From my view point on top of the cape , I saw a mass of sea spray and pulverised rock dust billowing evertwhere.
I thought the two guys must be dead for sure .
However , before long, I was much relieved to hear my two new friends yelling that they were OK .
Amazingly, their trail rope was still intact, between the cape and the ledge, since the top half of the Tote had fallen/collapsed towards the south, and not against the cape.
After finally retreating to my position on the cape , we all survey the chaos below !!! A stub of rock sticking up about 20 metres above the kelp is all that remains !!!
Feeling lucky to be alive, and being towards the end of their world climbing tour, anyway, Peter and Casey decided to fly out to the States ASAP , to appreciate family and friends again , before heading over to Hawii to watch the Pipeline Masters in December.
R.I.P. The Totem Pole !!!
Sally Jamison.
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sbaclimber
Oct 26, 2007, 8:13 AM
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.......... hmmmm, troll.......????
time will tell....
(This post was edited by sbaclimber on Oct 27, 2007, 12:42 PM)
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sallyj
Oct 26, 2007, 8:31 AM
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I have my mum's Canon SLR, so I can post some pics once I scan the slides.
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sbaclimber
Oct 26, 2007, 8:34 AM
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sallyj wrote: I have my mum's Canon SLR, so I can post some pics once I scan the slides.
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jonoj
Oct 26, 2007, 9:15 AM
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That must have been a spectacular sight!!! 
Amazed, and glad to hear that the guys weren't harmed at all!
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dtew
Oct 26, 2007, 9:18 AM
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sallyj
Oct 26, 2007, 9:50 AM
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Yes. The Free Route, 25/5.11d, 1995, USE TO !! go up the left arete (above them) and the original , aid M6/A3+ , 1960's, went up the right arete.
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truello
Oct 26, 2007, 12:42 PM
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That is kinda sad... the Totem Pole is one of those formations that inspired me to climb. I was hoping to get on it some day
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overlord
Oct 26, 2007, 1:43 PM
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wow. im glad they werent hurt.
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thorne
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Oct 26, 2007, 1:45 PM
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WOW
Thanks for posting this, Sally.
Glad to hear Peter and Casey are okay. Talk about dodging a bullet.
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j_ung
Oct 26, 2007, 1:46 PM
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I have no reason to think this isn't for real, but... is this for real?
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rhythm164
Oct 26, 2007, 2:08 PM
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Damn, that's amazing, and Dean Potter didn't even free solo it  . In all seriousness, glad to hear your friends are ok, looking forward to seeing the post-collapse pics. Too bad though, it was a pretty iconic formation.
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mheyman
Oct 26, 2007, 2:24 PM
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I agree with all the comments here!
Glad every one is OK.
It's a shame too have lost such a climbing icon.
Also it's a shame we have to ask is this for real. It's not April 1st.
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macherry
Oct 26, 2007, 3:27 PM
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please post pics
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marc801
Oct 26, 2007, 3:42 PM
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mheyman wrote: Also it's a shame we have to ask is this for real. It's not April 1st.
http://www.ukc2.com/forums/t.php?n=268243
From the first post in that thread:
We dumped the Totem Pole thread down the chat room if you want to view it and we banned the person who started it.
Topic - BULLSHIT: Tasmania's Totem Pole collapses into sea.
Thank you for everyone's help to cut this one in the bud.
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dominic7
Oct 26, 2007, 4:44 PM
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Bravo!
T6
The "loud cracking sound" was a bit over-cooked but I thought on the whole it had a nice air of legitimacy.
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midwestishell
Oct 26, 2007, 4:54 PM
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So is this really crap or is there a thread of truth to it? Who the hell is this Sally SOB and where has the he-she gone now that this discussion is coming up? I good troll would have kept the discussion going with some photo-shopped pics or something.
If Sally doesn't show lets ban her too just like the Brits did!
Th
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xtremst80
Oct 26, 2007, 4:59 PM
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I just called a buddy in Australia, and he has heard nothing about it.....You would think something like that would of been on the local news???
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sallyj
Oct 26, 2007, 5:12 PM
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It's not a troll !!!
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=472262
Those poms on UKClimbing are such cynics !!!
No wonder the yanks had to save them in two world wars !!!
(This post was edited by sallyj on Oct 26, 2007, 5:14 PM)
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Azure
Oct 26, 2007, 5:13 PM
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truello wrote: That is kinda sad... the Totem Pole is one of those formations that inspired me to climb. I was hoping to get on it some day
Go get on it!!!
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knieveltech
Oct 26, 2007, 5:18 PM
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xtremst80 wrote: I just called a buddy in Australia, and he has heard nothing about it.....You would think something like that would of been on the local news???
Why would the collapse of a rock formation make the news? Especially somewhere as remote as Tasmania? Is the totem pole considered a major tourist attraction for non-climbers?
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sallyj
Oct 26, 2007, 5:18 PM
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You CAN go get on it !!! The 1st pitch is still intact . Take your scuba gear for the 2nd pitch ...
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xtremst80
Oct 26, 2007, 5:27 PM
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knieveltech wrote: xtremst80 wrote: I just called a buddy in Australia, and he has heard nothing about it.....You would think something like that would of been on the local news??? Why would the collapse of a rock formation make the news? Especially somewhere as remote as Tasmania? Is the totem pole considered a major tourist attraction for non-climbers?
Yes it is a big tourist attraction.
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