INADEQUATE BELAY, FALL ON ROCK, NO HARD HAT

Idaho, City of Rocks National Reserve, Twist and Crawl

Twist and Crawl is about a 35-39-meter route. The leader (53) of the route, clipped draws to the anchor chains and was to be lowered off. The belayer’s (mid-50s) end of the rope wasn’t tied to her and she let the 60-meter rope end slide through the device, resulting in the leader falling to the ground. He sustained lacerations, abrasions, a fracture, and a concussion.

Analysis

Tying in to both ends of the rope would have prevented this accident. The use of a helmet might have lessened the severity of the worst injury. (Editor’s Note: There were two other incidents from City, but they were minor in nature. There was one other report from Idaho this year. Two young men were off-route on Sturs Chimney on Mount Heyburn in the Sawtooth Wilderness area when one of them fell about 50 feet, resulting in a sprain and fracture. The good news is that they negotiated the terrain, including many miles of hobbling. They made it out in time to prevent the SAR effort that had been initiated.)