scary faLL.....crampon fell off !
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Hi All, I climbed Coors light Friday morning and came within an inch of my life. |
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HO! LEE! SHIT!!! |
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mike c wrote: I am very grateful and wanted to take this topic and focus on the lesson.....i let my guard down on the easy top. I will be more careful to continue climbing to a safer stance. I learned some big lessons for the new year. wear your helmet and watch every step.Really scary story Mike. Excellent learning points, I appreciate the reminders. Thanks Mike, glad you are still with us! |
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Glad you made it out relatively unscathed. Freaky! |
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Good personal call-outs. Thanks for sharing this story, so that others have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes. Hopefully the peanut gallery doesn't start throwing too much shade your way. Seems like you learned a lesson, that, and your survival are the most important things to take away from this, |
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Any info on boot/crampon configuration and brands? Just to get an idea about the (hopefully) rare and bigger issue of a crampon just coming off. Thanks for sharing. |
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I'm glad to hear that you are doing ok. |
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would love to see photos/or description of your boot and crampon combo. |
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Crampon fit is something I'm pretty serious about. And what looks good initially often is actually mediocre at best. |
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Scary stuff mike. Glad you are alive. Have a speedy recovery. |
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mike c wrote:Hi All, I climbed Coors light Friday morning and came within an inch of my life. I fell from the very top while run out .......i had two screws in about 8 feel apart and too much rope out. while walking up the super low angle ice at the very top, my crampon popped off my left foot. The next couple seconds came with the speed of lightning. Before i could barely scream i began sliding out of control back toward the edge i just topped out...... All i could do was scream in terror and with more prudency than i have ever summoned before. So i went right over that edge thinking .."this is it". Very scary while flying upside down ,head first. I was wearing my helmet and about to impact from roughly a 40 footer when i put out my left arm to try to reflexively brace for the impact.(landed on it directly from 40+ feet) While within the last few inches, the rope came tight and the fall was arrested inches off the icy deck!The fall was stopped by one old 16cm bd ice screw. My left arm was dislocated(dangler) at the elbow. THAT HURTS!At the time it felt shattered but to my surprise ,unfractured. I should have decked but my last minute scream got my belayers attention. HE saved my life .The scream alerted him and he stoped me with no room to spare. I am very grateful and wanted to take this topic and focus on the lesson.....i let my guard down on the easy top. I will be more careful to continue climbing to a safer stance. I made a mistake and was not using my picks,so when my left crampon poped off ,so did I. Had i been using my axes, i may have arrested my self. I blame my impatience.MY Belayer and good friend saved my life! I will be taking extra efforts to tie on my crampons better. The emt's were great.I was in alot of pain but made the decision to hike down to meet up with the emts at the highway.I learned some big lessons for the new year. Happy New Year. wear your helmet and watch every step.You should retire... |
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Mike, |
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Helluvan episode! Cheers to that, carry the lesson with you, share it with others, and buy a lottery ticket! And carry that lucky screw with ya! |
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kablauch wrote:Any info on boot/crampon configuration and brands? Just to get an idea about the (hopefully) rare and bigger issue of a crampon just coming off. Thanks for sharing.Here is a good article from Cold Thistle on crampon fit. coldthistle.blogspot.com/20… Glad to hear you will live to climb again! Thanks for sharing the story as a good reminder to double check the pons. |
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^^^ Read that article, all. |
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Thanks for sharing. I am glad that you are ok. |
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glad you're ok |
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Wow, came close too last season while on easy ground. |