Rappeler survives fall of 50 feet in Big Cottonwood Canyon Published: May 6, 2008 A man rappelling in Big Cottonwood Canyon survived a fall of more than 50 feet Monday afternoon. The 22-year-old was rappelling with friends near Storm Mountain around 4 p.m., said Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. Paul Jaroscak.
“He was using a two-rope system but didn’t attach the second rope,” Jaroscak said. “He got to the end of the first rope and went into a free-fall.”
The man, who suffered a broken leg, was flown to University Hospital in serious condition, police said.
Deseret News
rick
beadysee
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “beadysee” wrote: > Anyone know what route he was on, or, which rock formation? > Couldn’t tell from the news report, the camera angle was too close > to the action.
Reviewed the video again, and, there’s a long shot and a still shot from the road where the emergency vehicles are parked. Got to be the Dead Snag Arete. Folks don’t have to rappel that route, there’s an exposed but fairly simple down climb. Been tempted to take down the rappel anchors up there, as folks tend to rap down and kick rocks on folks below. Hmmm….
Inital reports on the news indicated that the SAR folks had a hard time getting to him. Interesting…
-Brian in SLC
beadysee
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “rick thompson” wrote: > Rappeler survives fall of 50 feet in Big Cottonwood Canyon > Published: May 6, 2008 > A man rappelling in Big Cottonwood Canyon survived a fall of more than > 50 feet Monday afternoon. > The 22-year-old was rappelling with friends near Storm Mountain around > 4 p.m., said Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. Paul Jaroscak.
“He was using a two-rope system but didn’t attach the second rope,” > Jaroscak said. “He got to the end of the first rope and went into a > free-fall.”
From the KSL message board:
“This guy was a well experienced climber, He knew his stuff and by no means be consinder a ameture or some guy with his sneakers and a tank top on. He is human, and he made a huge mistake, and is lucky he is still alive. the fall was pushing 60 ft. He was not alone, he was in a hurry leaving his friends off a multi pitch climb to get to work on time. descending the climb on the second of three rappells he did not have the middle of his rope on the anchors. If you are not a climber this will not make any sense. there was not two ropes that were not tied together, there was one rope not properly placed into the anchors. on his descent he went off the end of the short end. He reacted quickly kicked of the rock tring to hit a snowy patch. which probably saved his life. search and rescue did an awesome job.”
Anyone know what route he was on, or, which rock formation? Couldn’t tell from the news report, the camera angle was too close to the action.
-Brian in SLC