Fall on Rock, Inadequate Belay / Protection, California, Joshua Tree National Monument

Publication Year: 1989.

FALL ON ROCK, INADEQUATE BELAY/PROTECTION

California, Joshua Tree National Monument

On October 23, 1988, Mike Hollins (34) was climbing with Mark Myers (28) across from the entrance to Jumbo Rocks Campground south of the Nuclear Reactor Rock on an unnamed route. Myers was leading the climb and was being belayed by Hollins. He had clipped into a bolt about three meters off the ground. He followed the climb to the left of the bolt along a thin crack. Myers was about two and a half meters left of the bolt when he fell off. Hollins was unable to catch him before he hit the ground.

Myers sustained a compound fracture of his left leg near the ankle from the fall. (Source: Kip Knapp, Ranger, Joshua Tree National Monument)