On August 2 an experienced climber, David Buckland (46), was out with his son when he took a fall on Wheels on Fire Direct (5.10) in Little Cottonwood Canyon, a route he had done many times before. He pulled a piece on the way down, got flipped by the rope, and slammed his hip into the wall, causing hip and ankle injuries. His son lowered him to the ground and called for help.

Analysis

David wasn’t wearing a helmet when he fell and was lucky he hit the wall with his hip versus his head. He had a lot of experience on this route and commented during the rescue, “Things can go from great to a nightmare in seconds.” Wear a helmet. (Source: Michael Finger, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office SAR.)

(Editor’s note: Although we typically do not cover canyoneering incidents, we noted one accident in Utah this year that was the result of the victim clipping her rappel device into the wrong part of her harness. She clipped the elasticized “rope keeper” instead of the belay/ rappel loop. The rappeller fell 40 feet and suffered serious injuries. This has application to all rappels. See the photo on this page.)