Kaitlyn Bohlin’s near death accident is currently a riddle, with a bit of paradox at play (at least to me). News reports stated (a) she had a park radio in her pack and (b) that her friend who was with her, retrieved that radio and made the “call”. Query: was her friend at the top of the rap or bottom when the accident happened, and if at the top(as most reports announced)how did she then get down? And if still at the top and not down, how did she get into Kaitlyn’s pack, that I assume, went “down” with her? There are easy answers to this by those in the know. Maybe in a further report, more information will offer.
I’d also be interested to know,who were her initial mentors and trainers in Zion that showed her “canyons” in June and July and who did she fetch the rope(s) from to do Pine Creek that day? A month earlier she’d been “taken through” Left Fork/Subway” by somebody and then weeks later she escorted as “leader” her sister and friend on that same route. Someone had also escorted her through Pine earlier.
To me, Pine Creek is a perfect potential trap for the non-initated and beginners. So many first timers come back a week or weeks later and bring friends; sometimes, lots of them, and often none have ever rapped. I’ve personally seen it over and over the past decade. Stuck or tangled ropes, folk caught on raps and many scared faces. Others have easy non-eventful passages. Is it the Park’s responsiblity to monitor the canyon(not really)and who and what is to collectively blame for “all the rookies feeding into Pine Ck.” and for Kaitlyn’s spill? In her case inexperience obviously was a prime factor, but who earlier nudged and pushed this gal along?
I’m wholeheartedly with Tom. Beginners shouldn’t take the bait. Travel with those that have paid dues and if you want to learn, “watch, ask and act” and make best effort at training sessions.I guess from ACA folk (RC) and “canyon leaders”.Or Tom & his group,Zion Adventures or other Zion teachers. And there are trainers in Excalante, Moab and SE UT too, and obviously in many other corners of this country and globe.
The rest of us without “proper training badges” apparently are no longer allowed to “speak” about “this stuff” I suppose. But on our upcomming Zion or Roost trips this fall,I wonder, will some of us be delegated to(oops I slipped over a rope/log and tore my wetsuit) just fixing and serving drinks&dinner after “canyons”? Who knows? Another paradox of sorts; Wang Dang Doodle. Mr. Garcia(help)where are you? ___________ (Speaking of training(tips): thanks to “gold medal” icons Bri and Hank for OR reports (and links). Lighter attache option/nice; replacement for the Montrail CTC/interesting; and new cam/style or whatever for Petzl ascender, Basic and Croll/real interesting. When will that new Petzl product arrive? Oh and Hank, I’ve still got that little “clip” gadget and possibly some peaches for you too.)
adkramoo
Kaitlyn has moved and is into the rehab. You go girl… http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/KaitlynBohlin
beadysee
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Kerry” wrote: > Obviously something went wrong > with the rigging of this last rap. Kerry
Simple error.
Sometimes these types of things happen, with no regard to the amount of experience a person has. Feller that died in the Black Hills rappelling recently for instance (Paul D). Was in his early 70’s and had been an active climber for more than 40 years. Simple pilot error.
Easy to blame stuff as “beginner error”, but, experienced folks make mistakes too.
A sport than involves trust in equipment, like rappelling, can be very unforgiving of simple errors.
Sounds like she rapped the wrong side of the block. Anyone could do that. Amazing that she survived.
Its hard to be diligent with double checking and safety, but, its stuff like this that help us to refocus on our own safety.
Cheers,
-Brian in SLC
Kerry
> While canyoneering is ‘pretty easy’, it is also serious, in that > even small mistakes can result in death or serious injury. There > are inobvious things to understand, and though many people have just > wandered in figured it out (and survived), a few have not.
What I find interesting about this very sad and unfortunate accident, without stating the obvious, is that this group did “successfully” pass over several rappells to get to the final rap of Pine Creek. The “Cathedral rap” is a fair challenge to the inexperienced, with the tricky little anchor point and set up down that wet ramp; and the rap just before the final one is of a fairly good length. They were able to pass by those evidently in successful fashion. I wonder what went wrong then, at the final one. Fatigue, adrenalin, excitement/anxiety with the height of the last rap…? Obviously something went wrong with the rigging of this last rap. Kerry
adkramoo
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, bruce silliman wrote: > And of course Ram provides us personal happenings that scare us about his adventures and then offers the terrible news of a friend lost. My sympathies.
No one I knew of at all. Just someone local who was getting after what she loved. Sympathies to the family, not me.
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880813003 and http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880812026 and http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808120337
bruce silliman
Thanks Tom for the post. It was what I was going to say.
As for last year’s accident I believe that we got the full reason on what happened from the two others in the group and from some members of the Zion SAR team. However, prior to the ink being dry on the early posts people were speculating, and incorrectly, of the cause of the accident.
It appeared to me that we were heading to the same location very quickly so i posted my thoughts. Yes, as usual Koen and Tom have chimed in with on-the-spot suggestions and that is constructive. And of course Ram provides us personal happenings that scare us about his adventures and then offers the terrible news of a friend lost. My sympathies.
I feel that with Kaitlyn’s remarkable recovery she and her canyoneering partner will certainly enlighten us to what happened when they are comfortable to do so.
Later and everyone have a safe day,
bruce from bryce
To: canyons@yahoogroups.comFrom: desertres@yahoo.comDate: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:50:43 +0000Subject: [from Canyons Group] Re: Accident in Pine Creek
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “adkramoo” wrote:
Some have dabbled on the edge of the “blame game.” If we have a cause,> something or someone to blame, then it can’t happen to us. It can, of> course. amen….although there will always some who want to boil it down to she didnt know which side of the rope to rap on.As for Pine Creek & ‘rappels’:”Combined with Ashtar Tower for a relaxed day at Zion. With Joe A., Adam and Joanna….met Joe French at the parking lot going in when we were leaving….Zach told me he and Joe F. set the record for this canyon…now Joe F tells me he set the solo record….he jumped vs rapped, no rope…less than 30 minutes…maniac I say…can skirt the last huge rap to the left he says, please do not jump that one! So a Monday, not a holiday…still ran into Courtney, Zach, Joe F, another partner of Joe A”s along with several other folks we knew who were kayaking the Virgin that day…unreal for a Monday I thought. Life is good.”I think about Keith alot still. I think about how there are fresh faces and ‘new’ places but also people absent most of all for me Keith. On a trip this year, I went on a local ‘route'(not many visitors in the last era) here in the San Gabriel Mountains starting from MtHawkins. Anyways, there were bits and pieces of terrain that caused me to feel sensitive/scared bringing back the impact of memories forgotten. So I am not in control, nor am I in a position to question why. I can only celebrate Kaitlyn’s recovery and treasure my time with Keith&his family.
_______________ Get more from your digital life. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/default.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Home2_082008
desertres
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “adkramoo” wrote:
Some have dabbled on the edge of the “blame game.” If we have a cause, > something or someone to blame, then it can’t happen to us. It can, of > course.
amen….although there will always some who want to boil it down to she didnt know which side of the rope to rap on.
As for Pine Creek & ‘rappels’: “Combined with Ashtar Tower for a relaxed day at Zion. With Joe A., Adam and Joanna….met Joe French at the parking lot going in when we were leaving….Zach told me he and Joe F. set the record for this canyon…now Joe F tells me he set the solo record….he jumped vs rapped, no rope…less than 30 minutes…maniac I say…can skirt the last huge rap to the left he says, please do not jump that one! So a Monday, not a holiday…still ran into Courtney, Zach, Joe F, another partner of Joe A”s along with several other folks we knew who were kayaking the Virgin that day…unreal for a Monday I thought. Life is good.”
I think about Keith alot still. I think about how there are fresh faces and ‘new’ places but also people absent most of all for me Keith. On a trip this year, I went on a local ‘route'(not many visitors in the last era) here in the San Gabriel Mountains starting from MtHawkins. Anyways, there were bits and pieces of terrain that caused me to feel sensitive/scared bringing back the impact of memories forgotten. So I am not in control, nor am I in a position to question why. I can only celebrate Kaitlyn’s recovery and treasure my time with Keith&his family.
adkramoo
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, Stan McQueen wrote:
That link gives me a 403 error: User is not authorized to access action > /viewJournal. Is there some way to see the entries?
Stan
I tried to go straight to the “read journal” link. Try his, the home page and click read journal. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/KaitlynBohlin
Stan McQueen
That link gives me a 403 error: User is not authorized to access action /viewJournal. Is there some way to see the entries?
Stan
adkramoo wrote:
Oops. The link > http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewJournal.do?method=executeInit
Tom Jones
Write a letter to the Park Superintendent. State that this is a FOIA request. Ask for the document.
If the document is particularly long, you may be charged for the time required to copy it.
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Matt Maxon” wrote:
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, bruce silliman wrote:
I know the temptation to second guess everything that she has > written >is overwhelming but can’t everyone just wait for the official > report. >Soon we are going to debate whether or not we should use a > ‘biner >block’. Whoops we did that in the recent past.
I have to agree with others…
“Official Report” What “Official report” These reports maybe available > internally to the park service & SAR community.
You guys ever see an official report on Bedierman, not me. I for one > would like to see it.
Where are these mythical “Official Reports”
Matt >
Matt Maxon
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, bruce silliman wrote:
I know the temptation to second guess everything that she has written >is overwhelming but can’t everyone just wait for the official report. >Soon we are going to debate whether or not we should use a ‘biner >block’. Whoops we did that in the recent past. >
I have to agree with others…
“Official Report” What “Official report” These reports maybe available internally to the park service & SAR community.
You guys ever see an official report on Bedierman, not me. I for one would like to see it.
Where are these mythical “Official Reports”
Matt
adkramoo
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “adkramoo” wrote:
Or next the VUAs at the East Entrance will evaluate everyone’s > ability going into the canyon using a checklist developed by the park.
What is a VUA’s?
adkramoo
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, bruce silliman wrote: > I know the temptation to second guess everything that she has written is overwhelming but can’t everyone just wait for the official report. Soon we are going to debate whether or not we should use a ‘biner block’. Whoops we did that in the recent past > Or next the VUAs at the East Entrance will evaluate everyone’s ability going into the canyon using a checklist developed by the park. > Just leave it alone… > bruce from bryce
Bruce, I can’t ever recall seeing an official report. Can you? I have found the group mostly pretty retrained in its commentary. Most of the information has come from Kaitlyn’s website and her, AnnaMalia and the family. They seem pretty comfortable about the event being an open book. They seem to be getting strength from folks caring. Have noted many signed into the guest book, including your kind comments.
Some very good advice has floated out there. I really like Koen’s recent comments on…heck, he said it well…here it is…Once you’re real comfortable on rappel, get your ass asap in a good course . But no sooner, because nobody can concentrate on knots etc with shaky hands and an overload of sensory input.
Some have dabbled on the edge of the “blame game.” If we have a cause, something or someone to blame, then it can’t happen to us. It can, of course. On Cutthroat Peak, in the Cascade’s recently, I revisited a spot and told the tale from 15 years earlier……A tired Ram clipped in for a 100 foot rappel, leaned back a little and the rope came out. Never made it through the biner. The lackadaisical way that I leaned back is the only reason any of you know me. Careless and stupid and error is not the domain of the inexperienced only. Accidents happen. Knowing how it happened is a red flag and teaching tool for us all.
A local women, 3 years my senior, died on the Matterhorn yesterday. It was her birthday. Another person fell and her rope was snagged and she was dragged down. She did nothing wrong I can see except be in the wrong place at the wrong time….and of course choosing to climb in the first place, which was the love of her life.
We do the best we can….when we get the chance, I guess. I still think about Patty and Keith. People who I never met. Many of us have lost friends we knew. I suppose being careful and coming home when the day is over is the best tribute we can muster to them. Sorry for the rambling on. This stuff is getting to me again. R
bruce silliman
I know the temptation to second guess everything that she has written is overwhelming but can’t everyone just wait for the official report. Soon we are going to debate whether or not we should use a ‘biner block’. Whoops we did that in the recent past.
Or next the VUAs at the East Entrance will evaluate everyone’s ability going into the canyon using a checklist developed by the park.
Just leave it alone…
bruce from bryce
To: canyons@yahoogroups.comFrom: MarlanD@WalkerPro.orgDate: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:00:51 +0000Subject: [from Canyons Group] Re: Accident in Pine Creek
One puzzling issue for me:Why was the most “experienced” person in the group going down that rapfirst? Wouldn’t it have been better to put the inexperienced friend onan autoblock and sent her down first so the experienced canyoneercould ensure the rig was right and help get the newbie over the edge?(And I know there are so many assumptions here, such as if theexperienced person doesn’t know how to rig in right, how would theyknow if the newb rigged in right, etc….)I did pine creek as a newbie and that rappel freaked me out. It stillfreaks me out a certain degree and I hope it always does so I amalways really careful. But the idea of being a newb and having to rigin (especially on a more complex rig like a biner-block) and go overthe edge without a second pair of eyes to look over my rig… Iunderstand the desire for a fireman’s belay at the bottom, but itseems like there are **a lot** of unsafe things that could happen atthe top that would justify having the experienced canyoneer come downlast. In our groups, we always sandwich newbs in the middle, the mostexperienced comes down last, another experienced person goes first fora belay, making sure the rap is clean, or ascending, if necessary.Also, it seems like there has been a discussion in here of rapping offdifferent diameter rope, but what is the danger in this situation ofrigging both the rap line and the recovery line through the rappeldevice, assuming the recovery line isn’t multiple lines knottedtogether. Even if you rigged wrong, I would rather take my chances onthe recovery line than no line at all. (Again, assume here that thisis the last person to go over and that the first people down went downthe block that had been made safe at the anchor with a knot.).— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Koen” wrote:> IF she put the block the wrong side that may be (part of) the answer> of why she survived: the retrieving end of the rope would have whizzed> through the anchor point and slowed her down a bit depending on how> they intertwined.> We’ve been experimenting with such setups for emergency uses in cases> you have only one ropelength the height of the drop: hang the rope> double, mounted through a descender fixed at the anchor, or a munter> hitch. Attach yourself to one end and lower yourself with the other> until you run out of rope, hopefully near the bottom . In the worst> case halfway…> Let go of the rope’s end and hope that the friction brake mounted on> top will slow you down enough to let you safely descend on the other> end…
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Tom Jones
or, a little less coy – here’s today’s journal entry:
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2008 02:09 PM, CDT Lots more progress to report. This morning Kaitlyn’s physical therapists gave us the okay to wheel her around a little. We did laps around the halls and she was able to see the sky. All of the tubes are gone. Kaitlyn is off of the oxygen, she’s started physical therapy, and SHE’S GOING TO REHAB!!! Tonight (Wed) she’s be transfered to Health South to start inpatient rehab. This will consist of 3 hours or physical and occupational therapy until she is safe to fly home and able to be independent at home. This means learning how to get herself from bed into a wheelchair, or onto a toilet, and other similar stuff. Also she’s be building endurance sitting (thereby making a flight home possible). The best guess is that this inpatient rehab will take about two weeks. All is going well. Of course there are still challenges ahead. There is pain and frustration but everyone continues to be impressed with her progress. I’ll post an address for the new place as soon as I get one. As always, feel free to send any questions my way. Peace, AnnaMalia
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “adkramoo” wrote:
Oops. The link > http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewJournal.do?method=executeInit
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “adkramoo” wrote:
And AnnaMalia was lowered to Kaitlyn as stated in the Aug 9th entry.
Also a new entry today. Progress continues
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Tom Jones” wrote:
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “flutedwalls” wrote:
Kaitlyn Bohlin’s near death accident is currently a riddle, with a
bit of paradox at play (at least to me). News reports stated (a)
she had a park radio in her pack and (b) that her friend who was
with
her, retrieved that radio and made the “call”. Query: was her > friend
at the top of the rap or bottom when the accident happened, and if
at the top(as most reports announced)how did she then get down? And
if still at the top and not down, how did she get into Kaitlyn’s
pack, that I assume, went “down” with her? There are easy > answers to
this by those in the know. Maybe in a further report, more
information will offer.
> Answers to these questions are available, from off-the-record sources:
1. her friend was at the top. She had taken off her pack for the
> rappel, and the radio was clipped to the outside. A fortuitous
> circumstance.
2. another party was present at the top, or arrived shortly. In any
> case, Zion SAR team arrived pretty quickly too, and would have > managed
> her exit. That’s what the windows in the tunnel are for! (well not
> really, but they do work well for quick access to the top of the last
> rap).
Tom
adkramoo
Oops. The link http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewJournal.do?method=executeInit
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “adkramoo” wrote:
And AnnaMalia was lowered to Kaitlyn as stated in the Aug 9th entry. > Also a new entry today. Progress continues
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Tom Jones” wrote:
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “flutedwalls” wrote:
Kaitlyn Bohlin’s near death accident is currently a riddle, with a
> bit of paradox at play (at least to me). News reports stated (a)
> she had a park radio in her pack and (b) that her friend who was
> with
> her, retrieved that radio and made the “call”. Query: was her friend
> at the top of the rap or bottom when the accident happened, and if
> at the top(as most reports announced)how did she then get down? And
> if still at the top and not down, how did she get into Kaitlyn’s
> pack, that I assume, went “down” with her? There are easy answers to
> this by those in the know. Maybe in a further report, more
> information will offer.
> Answers to these questions are available, from off-the-record sources:
1. her friend was at the top. She had taken off her pack for the
rappel, and the radio was clipped to the outside. A fortuitous
circumstance.
2. another party was present at the top, or arrived shortly. In any
case, Zion SAR team arrived pretty quickly too, and would have managed
her exit. That’s what the windows in the tunnel are for! (well not
really, but they do work well for quick access to the top of the last
rap).
Tom
>
adkramoo
And AnnaMalia was lowered to Kaitlyn as stated in the Aug 9th entry. Also a new entry today. Progress continues
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Tom Jones” wrote:
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “flutedwalls” wrote:
Kaitlyn Bohlin’s near death accident is currently a riddle, with a
bit of paradox at play (at least to me). News reports stated (a)
she had a park radio in her pack and (b) that her friend who was
with
her, retrieved that radio and made the “call”. Query: was her friend
at the top of the rap or bottom when the accident happened, and if
at the top(as most reports announced)how did she then get down? And
if still at the top and not down, how did she get into Kaitlyn’s
pack, that I assume, went “down” with her? There are easy answers to
this by those in the know. Maybe in a further report, more
information will offer.
> Answers to these questions are available, from off-the-record sources:
1. her friend was at the top. She had taken off her pack for the > rappel, and the radio was clipped to the outside. A fortuitous > circumstance.
2. another party was present at the top, or arrived shortly. In any > case, Zion SAR team arrived pretty quickly too, and would have managed > her exit. That’s what the windows in the tunnel are for! (well not > really, but they do work well for quick access to the top of the last > rap).
Tom >
Koen
I for one don’t see too much wrong in newbies venturing out on their own, IF they are wise enough to chose the right canyons. Having done Pine Creek, it doesn’t strike me as the ideal beginners canyon: that last rappel…
I recall my early days: my wife and I hired a guide and did two short & dry canyons in one day. The next day we went and bought two harnesses, two tethers with carabiners, two hms carabiners and two fig. of 8’s.
And a 30 m rope and a decent topoguide. And off we went on our own .
We proceeded to do every canyon we could find with a low tech and nil wild water rating (we already had wetsuits), with a max rappel of 12 m (about 40 ft), to give us some slack. And only in absolutely stable weather ! I figure we must have done about 50 different canyons like that before we got TWO 30 m ropes . 50 canyons, all without making one single knot ! Then we learnt some knots and techniques from people we met and who took us along. But it wasn’t until after 200+ canyons and several years that our technique level suddenly made a light-year jump ahead when we followed our first course. In hindsight I shudder at some of the things that our “experienced” friens taught us…
So my advice to all newbies (and their well-meaning teachers): don’t bother with knots and fancy ropework, concentrate on the basic moves (handling of safety tethers and procedures, learning to handle your descender), go to a lot of very easy canyons (who ever said easy isn’t beautiful !?!) getting comfortable on rappel. In short, practice the basics until they’re second nature.
I repeat, no knots nor fancy ropework !!! Learn to walk before attempting to run.
Once you’re real comfortable on rappel, get your ass asap in a good course . But no sooner, because nobody can concentrate on knots etc with shaky hands and an overload of sensory input.
Tom Jones
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “flutedwalls” wrote:
Kaitlyn Bohlin’s near death accident is currently a riddle, with a > bit of paradox at play (at least to me). News reports stated (a) > she had a park radio in her pack and (b) that her friend who was > with > her, retrieved that radio and made the “call”. Query: was her friend > at the top of the rap or bottom when the accident happened, and if > at the top(as most reports announced)how did she then get down? And > if still at the top and not down, how did she get into Kaitlyn’s > pack, that I assume, went “down” with her? There are easy answers to > this by those in the know. Maybe in a further report, more > information will offer. > Answers to these questions are available, from off-the-record sources:
1. her friend was at the top. She had taken off her pack for the rappel, and the radio was clipped to the outside. A fortuitous circumstance.
2. another party was present at the top, or arrived shortly. In any case, Zion SAR team arrived pretty quickly too, and would have managed her exit. That’s what the windows in the tunnel are for! (well not really, but they do work well for quick access to the top of the last rap).
Tom