Let's Go To The North Jetty!!!
There always has to be one or two people that don't know better and have to go watch the storm at the North Jetty, doesn't there? Never mind any warnings advising people not to go out there.
Anyone know who this guy is and how long he's lived up here?
posted by Fred Mangels @ 11:54 AM
22 comments
22 Comments:
I'll never forget standing on the tip of the jetty watching colossal waves roll by on both sides when suddenly one jacked up and broke over the entire jetty. We were paying attention, but really had no idea the ocean could do that. We ran the quickest sprint off there and got away barely, with only our feet getting wet. Another time a couple girls walking in front of me in the sand got hammered over by a side breaking wave. They were pretty seriously bummed out. The jetty is no joke.
This is the cheapest thrill ride that exists in Humboldt!
Although Ive never gone out beyond the beach during a storm, thats just a bad idea.
Don't know who he is but he should be charged a fee for being rescued. People who go places when they are warned not to go and then have to be rescued for their stupidity should be charged for the cost of the rescue. They are endangering the lives of others by being STUPID.
I don't know who he is either, but we could nick name him "Lucky"
Too much trouble-stick with STUPID.
I agree a little bit with sending him a bill, at least for the copter fuel.
A sleeper wave on the south jetty washed away a Volkswagen with two CR students in it about 20 years ago. Both killed. Nature's awesome power. Man's awesome stupidity.
Amazing photos from the ER on that story.
I just don't get it; what about an ocean full of freezing 20-foot waves makes walking out on the jetty seem like a good idea?
Stuck upside down in the dolos? He is beyond lucky to have survived. Chalk another one up for the Coasties.
2:41 wrote,"Don't know who he is but he should be charged a fee for being rescued.".
It certainly begs the question as to how much people should be responsible for their behaviour. John, over at his blog (Wed., Feb 21 post) tells us about how the Swisscharge for rescues
John takes the latest winter mountain climbers to task for getting themselves into the position of being rescued, as well.
Myself? I'm not sure where I stand on the issue.
5:53 wrote, "A sleeper wave on the south jetty washed away a Volkswagen with two CR students in it about 20 years ago. Both killed.".
I remember that one. I believe one survived and I think the surf was real rough and they drove out on the jetty to sightsee.
The reason I remember is that the guy who lived had an English class under the same instructor I had one under back then and the instructor related the guy's story to us as he'd been in the class just before us.
The guy said he was scared to death when he first got washed into the channel. Then, he managed to get back out of the water and tried to make it off the jetty but got washed in again. At that point he said he was more pissed than anything else. I forget if he was rescued or managed to make it back the second time on his own.
I don't recall ever hearing of them finding the body of the other guy.
It doesn't matter how big the warning signs are-what is our conditioning for ignoring signs? That is the Real question.
So, does the little tyke like cold water Fred?
The thing is, is that the waves are sleepers. Bigger than the apparent conditions. Throw in a human's perception-SPLOOSH!
The thing is, is that the waves are sleepers. Bigger than the apparent conditions. Throw in a human's perception-SPLOOSH!
But the waves aren't "sleepers" – the swell was running 16-20 feet all morning and into the early afternoon. It's not like the ocean looked calm and then some wave came out of nowhere. That's what's so particularly amazing to me. Walking out on the jetty as waves are breaking over it is akin to walking into oncoming traffic on the freeway. There hasn't been a single case of these big swell rescues/fatalities that's been a surprise if you have even half a clue about the ocean -- but we seem to have a lot of people without a clue at all. It's terrible.
A 16-20 foot wave will still only occasionally go over the jetty. I wrote the first post and can assure you a 16-20 foot swell was nothing compared to the30-35 foot wave that broke towards us. We were literally hanging ten off the jetty as we found ourselves looking up in the sky at this wave breaking toward us. Until that point the jetty was completely dry. Anyhow , I love your work Jen, keep it up.
It a bit of reach to call a larger than average swell a "sleeper wave". I have been out to the jetty a number of times to watch the swells (from a safe distance I should add) and it is almost inevitable to see one or two big ones roll over the whole thing.
Is there no such thing as a sleeper wave during large swells?
It's a picture of hank sims after Journalist night out at the brewery.
Those kids that got washed out in their Volkswagen were relying on the myth that they float.
It is genuinely comforting to know that if some natural disaster befalls us, other people will call us "stupid" and tell jokes at our expense.
The Eureka Reporter today (03-04-07)reports that his name is Brian Cooke. The citizens not trained in rescuing....hat's off to you for saving that boy's life. You risked your life for his.
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