FALL ON ROCK, PROTECTION PULLED OUT

Colorado, Eldorado Canyon State Park

On August 21, 2010, Donald Budlong fell from the slippery crux on the Bastille Crack (5.7+) and pulled two pieces, the highest of which was placed in the large flake to the right of the actual crack. He suffered a broken pelvis and other injuries.

Analysis

Stemming across from the big hollow flake to the actual Bastille Crack is not very uniform. The crack widens as it goes deeper into the formation. Most climbers place gear at this point and take the time to check to be sure that the placement is in a spot where it won’t walk deeper into the crack. (Source: From a post on mountainproject.com)