Search and Recue in Eldo today
|
A lot of search and rescue people in Eldo today, looked like they were bringing someone down from Redgarden area. Any news? |
|
I witnessed the Gambit accident. At about 1:30pm, as the leader reached the first belay (where we waiting for parties above), he fell near the last move about 110' up. His pro held and he stopped about 20' lower, saddled by the rope and with a bloody head injury (he was wearing a helmet, now destroyed). He was in and out of consciousness at this point but became coherent soon after getting to the ground. |
|
Hope everyone fully recovers. |
|
Great job Nick and Sam! There was a rescue going on at the same time on Redgarden. We were hiking out and they were setting up lines along the trail for a carry out. Park staff at the bridge told us a boulderer had a fractured ankle in addition to the Gambit accident. Busy day in the park. |
|
Yay Sam & Nick & RMR! |
|
I would add don't eat lunch anywhere near the base of Rewritten - husband got nailed in the leg with a rock whilst we were relaxing after a fun ascent. Thought we were back far enough, early season reminders. Also, wear a helmet. |
|
Nick Wilder wrote:I witnessed the Gambit accident. At about 1:30pm, as the leader reached the first belay (where we waiting for parties above), he fell near the last move about 110' up. His pro held and he stopped about 20' lower, saddled by the rope and with a bloody head injury (he was wearing a helmet, now destroyed). He was in and out of consciousness at this point but became coherent soon after getting to the ground. Sam Vanderhyden (the creator of the MP mobile app) was with me and quickly set up a fixed line, reached the climber, attached him to his belay loop, untied him from the lead rope, and rapped the pair to the ground. The belayer could not verbally communicate with the victim and with no line of site to the fallen climber, it could have been a lengthy and difficult evacuation if someone was not there to help. 911 was called and Rocky Mountain Rescue was on the scene in less than 30 minutes - pretty amazing response considering the hike from the parking lot is about that long! They accompanied the victim who walked on his own down to an ambulance.Nick, does "saddled by the rope" mean that it was between his legs, and presumably that the rope flipped him when it came tight, causing his head injury? |
|
Mike McHugh wrote:Yay Sam & Nick & RMR! On a slight tangent, it seems like many of Eldo's early season accidents are preventable*. Yesterday's accidents don't qualify, but maybe if I blabber a bit, someone might be differently mindful this year and avoid a common accident. The ones that I see every year include: 1) End of rope/inattentive belayer accidents: Seems like around here it's frequently a belayer not minding the end of the rope whilst lowering someone, rope end shoots through belay device, climber drops. 2) Old fart's disease: Somehow the memories of all those great ascents of yore get rolled into one, the memories of the crappy days are discarded. Middle-aged, moderate climbers (like myself) go get on that Eldo 5.9+ that used to seem so easy. Accidents ensue. 3) Climbing below others, rockfall: Why anyone would climb Rewritten on a nice weekend, below three other parties, is beyond me. See ya out there. *Disclaimer: I'm a ding-danged maintenance guy. I build trails, clean bathrooms, and climb in blue jeans. My opinions may be silly.Ok Mike... You never cease to amuse! Polish those carbides! I'm glad he walked out and was immediately assisted by the climbers near by. Stay safe. Have fun! |
|
I was the climber who fell on Gambit.. Most importantly, I want to thank you Nick and Sam and all others in your party who assisted. From the bottom of my heart and beyond. I've often been struck with gratefulness thinking about your assistance in the days that have passed since the accident, and have told several people the story of the guardian angels who were so fortuitously there to rescue me. Words cannot describe how thankful Me and my girlfriend are. Without you and your effective assistance, it would have been a much much harder day and the injuries I sustained may have been more severe. I cannot believe my luck in having such competent and kind climbers nearby. |
|
Really glad you're OK Peter! |
|
Peter I am glad you are well, my partner and I almost did the same climb that day, but decided for a different area. Thanks for sharing with everyone. |
|
Optimistic wrote:Really glad you're OK Peter! Just curious, a couple people now have used the term "saddling the rope" in this thread, and I still don't know what it means. Could someone explain it to me?I think this is what he is talking about, but not sure: mountainproject.com/v/is-th… |
|
Damn dude...glad you are alright. |
|
Mike McHugh wrote: *Disclaimer: I'm a ding-danged maintenance guy. I build trails, clean bathrooms, and climb in blue jeans. My opinions may be silly.Brill-yunt! |
|
Nick Wilder wrote:I witnessed the Gambit accident. At about 1:30pm, as the leader reached the first belay (where we waiting for parties above), he fell near the last move about 110' up. His pro held and he stopped about 20' lower, saddled by the rope and with a bloody head injury (he was wearing a helmet, now destroyed). He was in and out of consciousness at this point but became coherent soon after getting to the ground. Sam Vanderhyden (the creator of the MP mobile app) was with me and quickly set up a fixed line, reached the climber, attached him to his belay loop, untied him from the lead rope, and rapped the pair to the ground. The belayer could not verbally communicate with the victim and with no line of site to the fallen climber, it could have been a lengthy and difficult evacuation if someone was not there to help. 911 was called and Rocky Mountain Rescue was on the scene in less than 30 minutes - pretty amazing response considering the hike from the parking lot is about that long! They accompanied the victim who walked on his own down to an ambulance.Wow, Nick, you actually get out and climb? I thought you lived in an underground bunker and just fixed all the crazy batsh*t things what go on on the site! WooHoo! HA! |
|
FrankPS wrote: I think this is what he is talking about, but not sure: mountainproject.com/v/is-th…Thanks Frank... Slightly quicker to say than "getting the rope behind your leg", I guess! |
|
Thanks for the reminder to not be complacent, Pete! We rarely hear the full story of accidents. I too have climbed that route at least five times, taking a party of three up once as their friend/guide. But I know for a fact today that I am just not on my game in Eldo and would need to log some time there to get back up to speed. |
|
Pete, best wishes for a speedy recovery and a cool scar. |
|
dang, almost the exact same thing happened to a buddy of mine on Gambit a few years back, same place on the route and similar injury. Crazy coincidence |