FALL ON ROCK

California, Yosemite Valley, Nutcracker

On September 20, 1992, Margaret Cashman was leading the sixth pitch of the Nutcracker route when she took a ten foot leader fall. As a result of the fall she impacted both of her heels causing possible fractures and significant pain. A technical lowering operation with an attending medic was implemented and Cashman was safely brought to the ground and transported to LMH without complication.

Analysis

I don’t know exactly what happened here, but we’ve had several accidents on this pitch, the last on the climb. Just above the start of the pitch is a short, steep comer, then a mantle, then an easy traverse right for a few feet, then a couple of face moves. People have fallen on all of those sections. If not carefully protected, they smack the low-angle slab at the belay (Source: John Dill, SAR Ranger, Yosemite National Park)