FALL ON ROCK, INADEQUATE PROTECTION, INEXPERIENCED

Colorado, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Calypso

On September 5, a climber (44) who was the third man on the rope started up the first pitch on Calypso when he fell, causing him to pendulum and thus hit the wall, resulting in breaking an ankle.

Analysis

The second climber had pulled all the protection as he went up. Because of the configuration of the route, the leader should have told the second to back-clip the protection. (Source: Steve Muelhauser, Park Manager II, Eldorado Canyon State Park)

(Editor's Note: Steve Muelhuaser indicated in an e-mail that this was the only reported accident of any significance in the park for 2003.)