serious accident in Eldo this evening

You can do this, Preston -- we are all pulling hard for you! Thanks from all of us to Micah, Rachelle and the others who helped Preston before the ambulance arrived. My thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends.

Preston, there's a gang of us in Loveland praying and pulling for you and the family.

Preston and family - thoughts and prayers- we are pulling for you - Carol, Parker and Keaton Williams from the old "hood" in Pinebrook.

Thanks for all the prayers sent out to Preston and his family. FYI, I was married to Preston for 18 years and mother of his three children. Most IMPORTANTLY, we want to thank the people who were on the scene and helped Preston immediately following this horrific accident. He is the father of three beautiful children. As of today, he is still in a coma, and it may be weeks before any concrete diagnosis can be made should he live. Even if he does not pull through, the ones who saved his life after the fall have given the children and me a chance to see him and tell him we love him. Forget about blame, Preston was doing what he loved and he was a skilled and safe climber. As far as I know he NEVER climbed solo. If he does not make it , at least his last memories will be of the beautiful canyon that he loved. Cheryl

I am Preston Brennan's sister and I would like to thank all of you have sent their best wishes and prayers for Preston. I especially want to thank the climbers (Micah and Rachelle) who kept Preston alive until help came for him.

I would like to say that Preston was a very experienced climber and I believe that this was just a horrible accident and not a result of negligent or risky behavior on his or anyone else's part. Preston loved climbing and there is no blame to be laid.

Our family is flying to Denver tomorrow from Seattle and Chicago to be with Preston and his family and can use all the prayers and good thoughts that are coming his way.

My 18 year old daughter is a young climber and it is so good for her see what a remarkable group of people climbers are.

Thank you all again so very much

Margot Brennan-Graves

We're pulling for you out here in California, Preston. You and your family are in our thoughts.

I have known Preston and Cheryl for years. Both are excellent humans driven by love of life, friends and family. Preston is an accomplished, careful and ultra-conscientious climber. Above all he is a strong man. I know he is gathering in all the prayers, toasts and songs to the universe, whatever energy can be directed to him right now, and is making of them whatever can be made. It's really cool to see all the support from this community for this difficult situation. Cheryl, please let me know how I can help. Tom

Margot Brennan-Graves wrote:... Preston loved climbing and there is no blame to be laid.

I am the same age as Preston and have the same love for climbing, Eldorado canyon, and my 2 kids. I am extending my heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends and hoping that everything turns out for the best given the circumstances.

Best wishes for Preston. Having been in a similar situation making decisions about a close friend with a massive head injury, I'll just say: do not give up hope. It was a brutal roller coaster for all of us and we were very, very close to letting him go. He pulled through against horrible odds and has made a remarkable recovery. Life will never be the same after major TBI but it may not be as grim as you'd think while looking at them in ICU hooked up to all the machines. We had an amazing surgeon in Boulder (Dr. V) and Denver has great resources too. Sounds like Preston has the will and the support so a bit of luck and time are what he needs most.

Clyde

Preston & family, you have prayers coming from Idaho. The night is coldest just before dawn. Speedy recovery.

Hello to all concerned climbers and friends,
Thank you so much for your love and support. I was the climber with Preston when he fell on Sunday. To help resolve the issues of what happened, I feel I need to write a bit about it so that it can possibly inform other climbers and help make some sense of the accident. Preston is a very careful, meticulous, and experienced climber. He had set two nuts and was working on the third for quite some time. It was on the first part of Werks route. He had set another about ten or so feet above the third. He was setting the fifth when he lost grip. Although it was traumatic and my memory might be failing me, he hit his left side of his forehead on rock and was unconscious for the rest of the fall since he made no sound and came down like a rag doll. Two of the nuts pulled. I was anchored to the rock that he landed on. It was a freak accident that was horrifying and I don't know what I would have done if I had not gotten the help I did from Brian and his girlfriend Rachel, as well as Micah. You all saved Preston's life. I couldn't have done it without you. I can't thank you enough.

As for his condition: He has serious brain injuries and is getting the best possible care that he can get from St. Anthony's. Today was a good day but it is all touch and go right now.
We've climbed together all season. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to witness. Please send Preston positive thoughts and love. He needs all he can get right now.

Thank you,
Alison

Sending lots of good thoughts and positive energy to Preston and his family. Best wishes for a positive outcome.

Thanks again, I have been reading this and have sent the website info to family and friends all over the country. I directed willy to this site(his oldest son). It has created a real feeling of love and support. Cheryl(former wife)

Whewwwww....this is heartbreaking. I don't even know the guy but I'm about to cry just reading all this. Positive energy coming to you from the south.

Just sending a little more love to a man and family I've never met. All my hope is headed west.

j

Dear Alison and Cheryl: I too feel I wish to apologize for even hinting at the possibility of belayer error. Like of all us I was just trying to make sense of the situation and given that I thought I heard from rescue personnel on site say there was no initial evidence of pulled gear, (but obviously it turns out that was not the case) it was one scenario that came to my head. I was trying to be cautious in trying to figure it out, but in hindsight should probably have said nothing at all, and for this I am again very sorry. I came on scene near the end and am still shook up just from that small intersection with the event. Again I apologize and do know that my personal thoughts and prayers are with Preston, with you, and the family. I can't imagine the grief and emotions all of you must be going through. Gary

Wow, this is so sad to hear. All my thoughts and energy go out to Preston. Hope you have a speedy and complete recovery. This is my favorite pitch in the entire canyon and although sad news, it's good to have a reminder that this sport is still very dangerous.

Be well, my friend... My thoughts are with you.

Mal

Preston, hang in there brother, positive vibes headed your way. We are all pulling and praying for you.

Brian, Rachel, and Micah. Thanks to all three of you. It's always good to see the climbing community spring into action when another one of our brothers or sisters needs help. I commend all three of you on your courage.

All-

We (RMRG) are currently compiling the details of this accident, and we hope to release an accident report and lessons learned when our investigation is complete. We hope to do this soon, but hopefully everyone recognizes how critical it is that we get the facts 100% correct before we publish anything.

Tim Holden
Group Leader
Rocky Mountain Rescue Group