FALL ON ROCK, INADEQUATE BELAY – LOWERING ERROR

New Hampshire, Rumney, Armed and Dangerous

On Today (April 19) on the route Armed and Dangerous, a seasoned climber was lowered off the end of his rope by another seasoned climber. Both climbers had joked regarding the length of the rope/climb prior to starting the route.

The climber fell 12 feet onto his head and upper back, sustaining only a small head injury and some apparent nerve damage to his arms/pelvis. The climber was extricated by 15+ climbers and 10+ rescuers. He never lost consciousness, and it appears that he will recover fully after some rest and relaxation.

Analysis

He was lucky not only to fall from where he did, but how he did and with so many people around.

Let this be a lesson to tie a knot in the end of your rope, or at least look at the end when lowering off a climb, especially one you haven’t been on many times. (Source: Edited from a Mountain Project posting by Ladd Raine)