Trip Report

The Climbing Accident that Almost Killed Me

PS, does anyone know what canyon they are initially dropping into? I assume it might be the alternate route into Pine Creek that isn’t used anymore, but I’ve never used that entrance and have no idea what it looks like.

I do recognize parts of Pine Creek and Mystery Canyon in the video.

Report Details

AuthorScott Patterson
DateMay 22, 2014
Region
Discussion14 replies
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  • Yeah, the video is VERY dated…. but it’s like 20 years old. Purple was apparently very big back then.

  • Scott Patterson

    I only watched a couple min. of the video – where is the 2-stage rap?

    Right around 11 minutes.

    Pine Creek in Flip Flops:

    Last time I did Knotted Rope/Miners Hollow, one person in the group did it barefoot.

    Fun moments:

    Another fun moment starts at ~25:00 where the narrator indicates that the Virgin River flows into the Grand Canyon.

    Still, overall the video is pretty good and interesting.

    I thought that was Steve Allen’s story, but I guess not

    It could be lots of people’s story in that canyon. We had a log like that on our trip, though I don’t think it took 45 minutes. Maybe 20-30 minutes though. When Turville told that story, I was wondering if it could have been that canyon.

    • I recall someone in flip flops in Englestead a few years back. That first log snag? I think something shifted and it took his big toe right off. I think he carried it out with him. Leave no trace. Just sayin…YIKES!

    • If this sounds like fun and you want to try it, be careful. Skin doesn’t stick to sandstone nearly as well as rubber …

      Gordon

  • ratagonia

    Pine Creek in Flip Flops:

    T

    • Interesting. Flip-flops in the technical section?…maybe, but the exit hike would be a bear. Cool photography and nice rope bag, though!

      One of my early trips through PC was in surf-walkers. It was in tippie-top mode (flashed the night before), so I thought there would be lots of swimming (shoes for the exit).

      Toeless Joe Jackson? Not exactly a lucky rabbit’s foot in his pocket.

  • ratagonia

    Fun moments:

    11:50 – on the first rap anchor, he makes a point of using a ring on the webbing. On the second he just runs it through the webbing.

    The two rappel sequence, that lands in Pine Creek, is not necessarily filmed in one location.

    17:28 – “campsite around here somewhere?”

    19:48 – rappel from the side into the Cathedral rap in Pine Creek.

    21:00 – next scene Keyhole

    22:00 – next scene Orderville

    23:00 – down the last rap in Mystery. (Doug Heinrich upclimbed that to get the talent and cameras up there).

    24:30 – vertical tree stuck in a canyon – took 45 minutes to get over it (I thought that was Steve Allen’s story, but I guess not). I think we say that log in Kaleidoscope last week.

    Steve Howe listed in the credits as well.

    Tom

    • back in the mid 90’s, a description in the Black Book recommended that one hike up the Canyon Overlook trail to a minor drainage, about one to two tenths of a mile in and head down to the rim. One big rap or two smalls ones lands you in at the bottom of the Cathedral. You actually land on that little climb that leads up to the down canyon natural bridge and view point up to the Cathedral rap. Did DT call the drop the Cheese Grater? I can see why on further reflection. We did it as one long rap and there was rarely webbing on the mid station sloped ledge. I don’t recall the height. Probably can be found in the archives. I think we carried 2 long ropes to do it in one drop.

  • hank moon

    I only watched a couple min. of the video – where is the 2-stage rap?

  • Scott Patterson

    Looks like keyhole for the helmet bit

    What about the two-staged rappel? Is/was there a two staged rappel route into Keyhole? Or is that the old entrance to Pine Creek?

  • hank moon

    More stuff

    4:19

    JV: Well the nice thing about these new harnesses is that they have the directions sewn right inside the belt so you can’t do it wrong

    DT: It’s a nice safety feature

  • hank moon

    Looks like keyhole for the helmet bit

  • hank moon

    Scott, you are a ruler of rulers – thank you for digging this up.

    The pertinent dialogue:

    John Viehman : So you don’t use helmets when you canyoneer, right?

    Dennis Turville: Usually not. I mean helmets are a good idea, but they’re heavy, they’re hot…and down here, y’know in canyons i’ve been in like this one, the flash floods usually come through and keep it pretty clean, so…and you’ll be under the overhang down here, so…we’re quite safe here.

    ————-

    1995…can’t fault him for not loving the helmets of that era…

    • Not trying to beard the lion in his den, but so are ropes and packs.

      I noticed on a later rappel DT wearing a glove on his brake hand. (Everyone knows that nylon/poly sliding through flesh makes you tough.)

      One more discordant quote, JV: they say, if you live through the first 3 feet of a rappel you’ll live through all of it. (THEY are a bit out-of-touch with many accident reports.)

      (Sorry, just had to nitpick a little.)