FALL ON ROCK, FALLING ROCK

Washington, Nooksack Tower

On August 26, 1984, Joe Catellani (30) and Mark Bebie (31) ascended Nooksack Tower by noon. They made the first 50 meter rappel at 1230 and began down climbing Class 3 rock to the next rappel station. Bebie skidded down into the lower side of a refrigerator sized boulder, which dislodged and carried him ten meters before he was able to get out of the way and stop himself. The rock continued some 500 meters vertically to the Price Glacier. He sustained a broken right toe and severely cut right thumb. The team continued down seven more rappels, with Catellani belaying Bebie on the Class 3-4 scrambling. They reached their camp late that night and camped, hiking out the next morning. (Source: George Sainsbury and Bergtrage, Seattle Mountain Rescue Council, 84-13, September 1984)