I just got word not but an hour ago that someone might have fallen off a climb in the designator amphitheater in vail while I was at the fire house climbing. I had to be back to work and drove by on the highway 30 min ago and it looked like the Fang had Collapsed?! If anyone has any info on this please keep me/us up to date. I hope I just didn't look close enough or something...

I can confirm that the Fang has fallen - noticed this about 25 minutes ago (4:06 pm now). My work window looks into amphitheatre. I know nothing else and cannot see (with binos) of any movement or persons up in the area or below.

www.vaildaily.com/article/20100112/NEWS/100119891/1078&Paren>>>

Best wished for the fallen

Oh man, best wishes to the climber and partners. Hopefully they will be okay.

That's terrible but The Fang had no business being climbed. It was super wet and in very unstable conditions as of Sunday. Thoughts with the climber and his family.

Conditions on Sunday Submitted By: Will Butler on Jan 12, 2010

Definitely sending good vibes tonight. Hope you can update us on his status later.

Wow that is awful. I'm so glad it sounds like he will survive. Definitely best wishes and vibes to Matt and his circle. I was there also on Sunday and I didn't even like walking by the thing. Here is another link with a bit more info:


www.summitdaily.com/article/20100112/NEWS/100119922/-1/RSS

I was in the area on Saturday and watched a guy from Dillion put up the Fang. It took him about 2 hours and he said he didn't have a "good" screw the entire length of the pillar. It was hollow, un-consolidated chandelier ice, pretty much Grade 6 and probably with an X rating. This fallen climber is lucky to be alive and I think he's got balls of steel to take the sharp end on something like The Fang in the condition it was. I'm glad he's going to live to climb another day. Best wishes and a speedy recovery!!!

Thats a big break, sorry to hear about the climber and the Fang, probably wont be back in this year eh? At least the climber is going to be ok, there have been some really lucky people in Vail the past couple years

Was there Sunday but thought better of climbing the fang. It looked too lean.

Positive vibes going out to the climber and his friends and family. I backed off a pillar yesterday that looked like it was in better shape than the fang because of how hollow it sounded. But, everyone has their level of acceptable risk, and I can respect the climber's willingness to get on that,

Our thoughts are with you Matty. We are sending you all the positive enegry and love we can.

stay strong matt! positive thoughts from montana!!!!!!!!

Matt, as soon as you can write, you have got one hell of a story to tell. Get well soon!

i'm guessing he survived b/c he landed on his balls. if he was willing to climb the fang when it was that thin, they're huge and would've cushioned his fall.

best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Thanks for all the love and support for Matt. He is in the ICU down in Denver with a laundry list of injuries that are requiring a lot of surgeries to repair. He's not out of the woods yet! Its amazing how the community has pooled together for such an amazing person. Matt is one of the strongest people I know physically and mentally. I can't wait to climb with Matty again to have him heckle me on what a pussy I am, Ha Ha. Drink some beers for Matty!

Your brothers in the east hope to see you back on the sharp end soon Matt.

Best vibes for a complete and speedy recovery Matt from a guy who is recovering from a grounder in the Ice Park in December. After Matt gets home from the hospital he'll need a lot of support from his friends. It just takes lots of time to heal.

Hey Rowdy or Matty's other buddies,
I live in Denver and was one of the folks who evac'd him from the site. I would like to visit and give him some good energy in person but don't know which hospital he is in. If you would send me a email with that info I would be glad to visit... thanks. jdsignom@hotmail.com

Note, a cell phone was found nearby.

My best wishes for the climber.

Get better, bro!!!!!

During the accident on Tuesday at Vail there was some gear left up on the designator. A dozen carabiners, some draws, and about 6 or 7 ice screws. Not a big deal but if anyone out there has any info for us that would be great. Thanks again for all the support and Matty is going to recover.

Just wanted to say,I meet Matt in Jackson Hole in 2007. Working with our friend T Dog.Matt I've been praying for you and wont stop till your better.When I first heard all I though was He's a tough one he will be fine. Get well cause who's going to pull me outta the Snake river when I get to deep? Stevo

Hey Brodie,
I was there on Tuesday and helped with getting Matt down out of the amphitheatre. Just wanted to let you know my roomate, who was also there, was back up there the next day guiding and got your screws and draws off the Designator. Don't know if you talked to him or not about getting it back yet. Get in touch and we'll get that stuff back to ya. Tell Matt I wish him the best and we'll see you all out climbing again soon.