Chip
Well-known member
J.Dub and I had Friday afternoon scheduled to do some rock climbing.
It was a fine afternoon with my oldest son Grant, J.Dub and another friend from town and his son. We had 3 top-roping rigs set and were all trying different climbs, mostly too tough or damp, but good exercise at a minimum. Nice, normal, local.
AND THEN...there were 3 late 20's/early 30's guys climbing near us. One was leading a deep, wet crack and we hear "FALLING" ... THUD.
Not good.
I got down and untied from my harness and yelled "Do you want me to call 911 ?" and the response was "Yes". Dude had slipped in the crack and his top pro pulled out. He was only about 15' up but at that height there is little the belayed rope will do, so he hit the deck. No visible blood or loss of conciousness, he probably only broke his ankle, but it was safer to call in the troops and have a proper immobillized evac. The first EMT guy got there very quickly but was not familiar with the trail to the cliff (150' off the road), so he wandered about a bit until one of us brought him in. This would be the trend for the next 1/2 hour: various EMT, ambulance, police and Fire Dept personnel arriving and wandering about a bit before locating and addressing the injured.
They eventually got him braced, boarded and masked with oxygen, lifted and to the ambulance. I have a great respect and fondness for EMT/Ambulance/Fire Dept and Police personnel... so don't take this wrong...This is a small town we were climbing in and there was obviously NOTHING else going on this day. The response was equivalent to what Capt Sully got in the Hudson.
I went back up top, redirected my top-rope and belayed down the crack to clean the pro still there.
Anywho, the guy seemed fine, probably more embarrassed than injured. Always interesting when 911 needs to be called. (At least the call wasn't for me this time,though). I think J.Dub took some pics, but that may have been the injured's camera.
Hope everybody had a great weekend.
It was a fine afternoon with my oldest son Grant, J.Dub and another friend from town and his son. We had 3 top-roping rigs set and were all trying different climbs, mostly too tough or damp, but good exercise at a minimum. Nice, normal, local.
AND THEN...there were 3 late 20's/early 30's guys climbing near us. One was leading a deep, wet crack and we hear "FALLING" ... THUD.
Not good.
I got down and untied from my harness and yelled "Do you want me to call 911 ?" and the response was "Yes". Dude had slipped in the crack and his top pro pulled out. He was only about 15' up but at that height there is little the belayed rope will do, so he hit the deck. No visible blood or loss of conciousness, he probably only broke his ankle, but it was safer to call in the troops and have a proper immobillized evac. The first EMT guy got there very quickly but was not familiar with the trail to the cliff (150' off the road), so he wandered about a bit until one of us brought him in. This would be the trend for the next 1/2 hour: various EMT, ambulance, police and Fire Dept personnel arriving and wandering about a bit before locating and addressing the injured.
They eventually got him braced, boarded and masked with oxygen, lifted and to the ambulance. I have a great respect and fondness for EMT/Ambulance/Fire Dept and Police personnel... so don't take this wrong...This is a small town we were climbing in and there was obviously NOTHING else going on this day. The response was equivalent to what Capt Sully got in the Hudson.
I went back up top, redirected my top-rope and belayed down the crack to clean the pro still there.
Anywho, the guy seemed fine, probably more embarrassed than injured. Always interesting when 911 needs to be called. (At least the call wasn't for me this time,though). I think J.Dub took some pics, but that may have been the injured's camera.
Hope everybody had a great weekend.
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