Ah man, it was a really rough couple of weeks out here as well. Ive been in Canmore and there has really been no good news.
This is the life we choose. We need to treat the hills with the respect they deserve and help our friends help us get home safely.
About the helmet thing, lets not forget good glasses as well.
These were Cebe glacier glasses. I was waiting way way too long for someone to set up an anchor when a fist sized rock hit me in the face. The lense that is still in took the hit causing the frame to bend and pop out the other lense. No stitches but a nasty shiner. There is no doubt in my mind that these glasses saved my life. 100%. I was 1500 feet up a ice & snow gulley 100 vertical feet from the 11, 060 foot summit. Retreat? yeah right. How long would it take to lower a victim 40 pitches?
It felt like hulk hogan punched me in the head. Needless to say I took over the lead and in passing my partner said " Thats why we dont (content moderated), pointing at my beaten bloddy face.
We topped out 20 min later, South East Face Direct, Diadem Peak new route, Alpine II 5.4.
My thoughts are with you Granite Girl.
C