200’ death slide Rainbow wall approach slab

Anyone else make the mistake of slipping on the icy slabs here? I took a 200’ fall/slide last saturday when my foot slipped on lichen and into a patch of ice. i then went into an uncontrollable slide at what felt like mach 1 down the waterfall of slabs, stopping at the talus at the base of the last slabs, right before the hand over hand line. Lucky to not be more fucked up than I am. The pic of the waterfall slab is what I stopped before. If I’d continued at this speed and gone off that last slope I might be dead.

Glad you are ok. That is a scary near miss 

Yikes, terrifying!!   I hope you heal up quickly.

Happy to contribute to putting a fixed line there. I’m all about leave no trace but also about leave no bodies… 

I dont think its as much of an issue when its dry! I think i just got really unlucky. The bottom part of the slabs which would be a death drop pictured above is not what i slid down. It was the upper slabs. i think if it wasnt icy i would have only slid 10 or so feet.

The bottom section has 2 bolts and a fixed line.

Tristan Bradfordwrote:

Anyone else make the mistake of slipping on the icy slabs here? I took a 200’ fall/slide last saturday when my foot slipped on lichen and into a patch of ice. i then went into an uncontrollable slide at what felt like mach 1 down the waterfall of slabs, stopping at the talus at the base of the last slabs, right before the hand over hand line. Lucky to not be more fucked up than I am. The pic of the waterfall slab is what I stopped before. If I’d continued at this speed and gone off that last slope I might be dead.

Was overhanding the fixed line and it suddenly popped out of the ice sheet throwing me off my feet but didn’t lose my grip.

Heal up soon, and get a haircut.

Tristan- Thank you for sharing your near-miss with the community. It sounds like a truly horrifying experience…Echoing others, I’m so glad that you walked away from this one. Wishing you a speedy recovery both physically and emotionally. 

Definitely not the first or last. Supposedly Gobright slid 100ft down the slabs, broke his ankle, and had to get carried out by Honnold outsideonline.com/outdoor-a…

Props for trying to go up those slabs with all the snow and ice, and glad you’re still alive. Doubt you would’ve had much fun climbing anyways with how cold and wet it was- wouldn’t be surprised if it was seeping in places. Guarantee you’ll have more fun on it when it’s significantly warmer, I personally prefer it when it is a high of 90 in Vegas. 

Were you going up there to climb?

your skin will grow back, unlike the fragile wet sandstone you were headed to climb on. 

Glad your alive.  Next time pick a better objective when it’s wet AF in red rock. 

david allfreywrote:

Were you going up there to climb?

your skin will grow back, unlike the fragile wet sandstone you were headed to climb on. 

Glad your alive.  Next time pick a better objective when it’s wet AF in red rock. 

How wet was it that day?

david allfreywrote:

Were you going up there to climb?

your skin will grow back, unlike the fragile wet sandstone you were headed to climb on. 

Glad your alive.  Next time pick a better objective when it’s wet AF in red rock. 

Red Rocks V: The Wet Sandstone Strikes Back

I know a guy who did it in Chacos. Terrible idea. buy some proper approach shoes

For red rock wet rain.

https://wetrockpolice.com/redrock

I'm glad you were not injured more and were able to self rescue.  That's a good thing.

I see Dave Alfrey has already said exactly what I was thinking. Why on earth would you be climbing on wet sandstone that is mostly in the shade all day, right now in the immediate wake of all these  storms?  Sandstone is a porous rock type and holds water in its matrix, making the bonds between gains weaker when wet. 

William Leventhalwrote:

I'm glad you were not injured more and were able to self rescue.  That's a good thing.

I see Dave Alfrey has already said exactly what I was thinking. Why on earth would you be climbing on wet sandstone that is mostly in the shade all day, right now in the immediate wake of all these  storms?  Sandstone is a porous rock type and holds water in its matrix, making the bonds between gains weaker when wet. 

The nerve! At first I had empathy for Tristan’s near death and traumatic experience. Now I am OUTRAGED that he was almost killed on damp sandstone. Somebody needs to give that guy “what for”.

I liked your first two versions of that response Josh! Will there be a third??

Tradiban, I need to tweak it just right!

Tristan: It appears that through your penance and confession, Red Rocks has administered absolution and you will go on to climb another (drier) day. Praise be!

This is a feel good story: Dude wound up with a near death story and maybe some scars and the rock policed itself. Play on! (Just maybe not on icy/wet sandstone).

HERR TRISTAN! ICH HABE MEINE AGENTEN ENTTEILT. SIE KÖNNEN NUR NASSEN SANDSTEIN AUS IHRER NASE, WIR WERDEN DA SEIN, UM SIE RUNTERZUHOLEN UND IHRE HAARE ZU SCHNEIDEN!!

david allfreywrote:

Were you going up there to climb?

your skin will grow back, unlike the fragile wet sandstone you were headed to climb on. 

Glad your alive.  Next time pick a better objective when it’s wet AF in red rock. 

Hey dave, we were headed up to do the original route which was completely dry. This happened on 3/18 before the big rains came through. Lots and lots of locals and guides out climbing that day.