Broken leg at Joshua Tree

Howdy folks,

A buddy of mine fell off the top of a boulder problem on Sunday (maybe 12ish feet up) and broke his leg. It was honestly one of the craziest things I have ever experienced. Complete fracture of the tibia and fibia. A bit of a freak accident. In fact, I had just fallen from the exact same spot minutes before.

A big thank you to everyone in the park who helped us carry him the half mile to the parking lot and then drive him to the hospital. Without you all it would have been a struggle. He made it to the hospital and is recovering from the surgery to implant rods into the broken bones. Might even get to go home today.

If anybody is interested, my buddy's sister started a GoFundMe to help out with medical expenses. Anything you can give is appreciated.

For your enjoyment...

Yoda Jedi Knightwrote:

Howdy folks,

A buddy of mine fell off the top of a boulder problem on Sunday (maybe 12ish feet up) and broke his leg. It was honestly one of the craziest things I have ever experienced. Complete fracture of the tibia and fibia. A bit of a freak accident. In fact, I had just fallen from the exact same spot minutes before.

Not at all. Falling 12' packs a lot more energy than people think, and it doesn't take being off-axis much to snap those particular bones.

Marc801 Cwrote:

Not at all. Falling 12' packs a lot more energy than people think, and it doesn't take being off-axis much to snap those particular bones.

In that case, maybe me walking away unscathed was a freak accident!

Yoda Jedi Knightwrote:

In that case, maybe me walking away unscathed was a freak accident!

You used the force, didn't you?

May venture a guess that the problem he fell from was “White Rastafarian”? 

Chris Ducawrote:

May venture a guess that the problem he fell from was “White Rastafarian”? 

lol I'm not sure what the boulder was called but I know it wasn't that one. We were in the Barker Dam area.

Edit for Tradiban:  You're totally right. It was the Chube. Spicy topout. We both slipped right off after getting the heel up.

Edit for tobias bundle:  We had three pads (not stacked). He fell directly onto one of the pads.

Yoda Jedi Knightwrote:

lol I'm not sure what the boulder was called but I know it wasn't that one. We were in the Barker Dam area.

The Chube. Seen a few broken legs over the years.

The first time I went bouldering I fell off from where the pad was placed and sprained/strained my right ankle pretty good. It really impressed on me how important it was for spotters to be attentive-as attentive as a good belay should be. If I decide to get into bouldering, I will be more particular about who I go with and have conversations about what falling/pad placement looks like on different problems. Wishing your friend a speedy recovery. Thanks for sharing.

If I can ask, what did they fall on? Just one pad?Miss the pad? Hit the seam? No spotter? Or none of that and just bad luck?

From afar, I once watched a guy blow that top out on the Chube - one foot missed the pad. He was bouldering alone. He said he thought he bruised his heal bone pretty bad and managed to limp back to his car.

Does your buddy have insurance? What are his expenses looking like? 

My buddy and I hauled a rando climber out from the Chube when he fell from the top out and missed the pad. Shattered his ankle. We literally carried him all the way to his car. (He had been drinking a lot and apparently couldn’t use the unbroken ankle to help us carry him at all, lol)

Jon Hartmannwrote:

My buddy and I hauled a rando climber out from the Chube when he fell from the top out and missed the pad. Shattered his ankle. We literally carried him all the way to his car. (He had been drinking a lot and apparently couldn’t use the unbroken ankle to help us carry him at all, lol)

The ability to self rescue in even minor incidents is an important skill that every climber should strive towards. Bring tape if not other ways to splint. Helps with compression.

The Chube sounds almost as dangerous as Doublecross!

I fell off the Chube several years ago. I was fully committed with my leg over the top and somehow botched the mantle. I missed 90% of the pad and landed straight onto my back.

Someone ought to bolt that thing along with double cross.

For real though, that actually happened and it’s a fuck’in miracle I wasn’t hurt. I was however extremely embarrassed and emotionally scarred for life.

Michael Rushwrote:

From afar, I once watched a guy blow that top out on the Chube - one foot missed the pad. He was bouldering alone. He said he thought he bruised his heal bone pretty bad and managed to limp back to his car.

Does your buddy have insurance? What are his expenses looking like? 

I would estimate ballpark $15k but I’m not certain.

No gym topout can ever mimic topping out something like the Chube. Seems like there's an increase in bouldering injuries with more people getting into climbing and thinking bouldering is the "easiest" or intro to climbing. Not saying it's anybody's fault, but bouldering definitely requires the most athleticism and body awareness, and I'm not sure people understand that. 

Best of luck to your buddy on his recovery! 

I rolled off the chube mantle and kicked a ranger in the face breaking his glasses in the process. Poor guy was just trying to help spot. 

That thing spits people off all day long. Hope your buddy makes a full recovery. 

Claudine Longetwrote:

Someone broke their leg bouldering!?!

OMG!

I cannot fathom how such a thing could happen. I cannot wait for the AAC report. Perhaps they will uncover how such dreadful accident could occur while bouldering. We really need to investigate this extreme occurrence, and take the recommended actions to avoid any further such tragedies. I am really starting to think we are in living in the End Times, even though I'm a Buddhist.

Thoughts and Prayers.

Sounds like OP posted to express his gratitude to those who helped him out, and to ask for money. So calm down champ

All the best to the injured bloke.  All the older climbers I talk to say their worst injuries were from bouldering.  As an older climber, I've been lucky.  Also, I don't boulder.  Neither does Peter Croft.  Lol.  Not much, anyway.  As he put it, it's an impact sport, no bueno for lots of folks.

Dang, the Chube again. I hope he makes a full recovery 

My climbing mentor who introduced me to both J-Tree and climbing fell off that, fractured his heel, and was never the same climber again. It wrecked him mentally. Be safe everyone.