Fall on Rock, Failure of Nut, No Hard Hat, Colorado, Hallett Peak

Publication Year: 1981.

FALL ON ROCK, FAILURE OF NUT, NO HARD HAT

Colorado, Hallett Peak

Paul Briggs (32) and Larry Layman (32) were climbing the Northcut-Cartel route on Hallett Peak. Layman had just run out a length of the rope when, for some unknown reason, he fell. He yelled, “Falling,” which set Briggs up for the catch. During the fall, Layman zip- pered either two or three nuts, one of which was a #7 or #8 hex. His fall was stopped by a fixed pin on the second pitch.

Layman fell about 120 feet and came to rest, suspended in his harness, about 30 feet above Briggs. Briggs then had to untie himself from the rope, tie it off, climb up to Layman and then lower him to the belay ledge.

Hikers who witnessed the fall ran to the Bear Lake Parking Area and the emergency phone to report the accident. Ranger personnel climbed up to the scene and lowered Layman to the base, then carried him about ¼ mile to a landing zone where he was airlifted to a hospital. He sustained a skull fracture (about 3 inches, just above his right ear) and a fractured scapula. (Source: Larry Van Slyke, Rocky Mountain National Park)

Analysis

Layman may have gotten slightly off route, which on that route can mean harder climbing. A hard hat would have changed the nature of the injuries. (Source: Larry Van Slyke, Rocky Mountain National Park)