I studied the Inbound today. As I see, A & D are in a bad situation.
Knowing a little bit about climbing I can say that Gail has no change
to bring a rope to them by climbing.
I put once myself into a same situation by climbing up an easy but
snow covered route. Facing serious troubles when I wanted to get
down I called my friend down at the foot of that route to bring the
rope.His answer was: "Come down and get it by your own." I didn't
think bad about him. Not for one second and we are still friends.
There is no adequate technique to set any proper self safety by a
single climber. As Doc already stated, even if Gail is a good solo
free climber, she can't reach them, for she doesn't find enough
footholds, as A & D used their very unique climbing technique,
and Gail has to carry also all this equipment that is truly needed
to rescue them.
Anyway, we need a plan to rescue A & D.
1) As this situation is truly serious enough to take the handy out
of the rucksack to call the helicopter, I thought first about Burn
and his flying vehicle.
Q u e s t i o n : has Gail the transmitter with her and if not,
can she contact Theresa to call Burn ?? Will Burn help ??
2) If three probes are climbing up, they probably will make it. They
can save themselves by fixing the rope with the crapsnails at the rock
face.One probe climbes ahead, then fixes the rope at the rock and the
others will climb then save up to that point. Using the spcial A & D
technique three probes will be even better than two.
Q u e s t i o n : Can E & Z come down to the southern plain ??
As I see, they are heading already in this direction. Al-Q says the
southern plain is totally under control of the C-probes. I don't see
a chance for that.
3) A classical rescue plan is to get on top of the mountain by an
easier route and than have the ropes brought down from the top. Gail
explored once the upper region of the Big Canyon. She reported that
the canyon is leading up to the very top of the mountains. Maybe side
canyons do that´too and she will find a way to get close and higher
above A & D to throw´a fixed rope to them.
Beside the Burn option I only see a chance in the third version.
How does Grand Zero always end his contributions ??
>Just my humble opinion, to which I'm sure
>there will be significant opposition
So do I. We need all our brain power to save their souls.
Therefore and not to confuse Gail with different suggestions
I'll wait to send my Outbound to Gail until tomorrow early
morning ...
We don't let them down
We will bring them down
m.f.g.
Xanthos