Hardscrabble Claims Young Man

Man dies in climbing accident

A Colorado City man died after falling in Hardscrabble Canyon on Tuesday
By JEFF TUCKER
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

A 21-year-old Colorado City man was killed in a climbing accident in Hardscrabble Canyon on Tuesday.

Jacob Scott Swartwood was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, about 8 miles up Hardscrabble Road in the canyon, said Custer County Coroner Art Nordyke.

Witnesses told investigators that Swartwood was attempting to climb a portion of the canyon without ropes and apparently lost his footing.

Swartwood fell about 80 feet and was killed instantly, Nordyke said. Emergency personnel were called to the scene at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Swartwood was an honor student at Rye High School, graduating in 2006 with gold cord for academics.

He was named to the 2004 and 2005 Santa Fe League all-conference football teams as a running back for the Thunderbolts and also ran track and played basketball for the school.

Rye High School Coach Jeff Bailey remembered Swartwood as a student and athlete who gave his all in everything he attempted.

"Probably the biggest thing about him was that he was an effort-guy. He's a kid that everything he did was at a hundred percent," said Bailey. "He just exhausted himself in everything, practice, games, track and field practice, track meets."

Swartwood broke the school's 800-meter race record, said Bailey. "He had speed. He had endurance which made him a perfect 800 runner.

"On top of that he was ranked very high in his class."

Swartwood's MySpace Web page provides a picture of an energetic, outgoing young man of faith who enjoyed a variety of athletics and outdoor activities.

"There was this one guy . . . a long time ago he saved everyone. Ya for real . . . EVERYONE," Swartwood wrote of his hero, Jesus Christ. "He also walked on water, which is cool."

Swartwood was featured in the sports pages of the Greenhorn Valley View after finishing in ninth place out of 15,000 runners this past May at Denver's Colfax Marathon.

He wrote enthusiastically of his many interests that filled his time on his Web page.

"Hey, I work, I go to school, I work another job, I teach a children's class at my church every Sunday and I tutor.

"I wanna be your friend I really do, but good luck finding the time! You do that and I'll be there."

jtucker@chieftain.com