Riverside Quarry accident

Anyone know the details on the climbing accident and injury at the Riverside Quarry today?

I was climbing on Nolstagia when I started hearing multiple ambulance, fire trucks and over first responder vehicles coming to the quarry. Everyone around my area first assumed it was base jumpers near School House, but later finding out it was a climber injury on the new route Uncle Ho.

Don't qoute me on this because this is coming from asking other climbers on what happened and my assumptions after inspecting the route and the area of accident. When I was leaving the quarry a few climbers near them in Whammy area said they heard loud screaming from a climber that was getting lowered down really really fast. Faster than a normal rap or how you would normally lower someone. This climber was also sideways while being lowered. The climbers/bystanders told me they believe the climber fell from the very top of the face climb on Uncle Ho before getting to the slab. They said the climber was probably dropped (belayer error), I believe they said belayer was using an ATC and the climber fell to the ledge a few bolts down. Another climber stated he physically saw an compound fracture of one leg (bones sticking out of his skin) with the foot/ankle completely at a 90 degree angle. He said he believes the other ankle/leg was fracture/broken too.

When I went near the area the accident after everyone had cleared out, I saw quickdraws on Uncle Ho where the accidently happened. The last quickdraw I saw was about 9 bolts up (2nd to the last bolt before the slab). I'm assuming this had to be a bad belay accident. The bolt is pretty far from the last ledge with anyfall from that bolt onto the next should result in a pretty clean fall. That part of the wall is very exposed. The bystanders/climbers also stated when they heard the climber being lowered down he was shouting and cursing very loud towards the belayer like it was his fault.

Again, take what I just said with a grain of salt. This is just what I heard from the other climbers near by and not from the actual group of climbers that were involved in the injury (group consisted of about 5 guys). I was actually climbing near them earlier in the morning and pointed out the new 5.9 to the right of Uncle Ho for them to climb.

RIVERSIDE ROCK QUARRY - FALL & EMERGENCY AIR LIFT.
-Not to be the bearer of bad news here... but, if any of my compatriots know of the crew of 4 guys who had the accident at riverside today. I have their draws that where left behind after the accident.
3/23/2014
A group of 4 guys (experience unknown) was climbing right of tangerine dream on a route that is not in the new climbing guide. Supposedly a 10A or so. One of the guys was close to the top and his partner failed to catch him resulting in what I heard to be a fractured ankle along with the other broken.
My partner and I where the guys next to them when it happened.
Once airlifted and out - my buddy and I climbed their route to ultimately collect their gear for them.
If anyone knows these guys from today or hears of this- can you connect them to me (i.e. us) so I can get them their gear. -Its a hefty group of quick draws to be left without.
Please email me here or connect them to me here.
-From what I heard from some people around us they said the guys where from Riverside and possibly climb at the Hangar 18 out near the quarry. -Hopefully we can get them their gear back.
Thanks... and keep a mindful watch my belay friends.

Side Note: I am the guy you - 'RN Climber' - ran into at the top of the path climbing tangerine dream with my partner.

If you know the guys or anyone related to them or the accident I have their draws from the climb.

I'm sorry to hear this happened. I'm very much glad it wasn't worse.

bump for draws..

Did this create any access issues?

any one hear how the climber is doing?

Just following up, did anyone ever hear any more specifics on this accident?

but did you get your draws back?!?

haha Nah.  Whoever grabbed them can have them.  

Adam A wrote:

haha Nah.  Whoever grabbed them can have them.  

Derek Kistner has them, didn't you read the whole thread?  He was/is looking for you to return them!!

Wow I didn't expect this to be brought back to life, but glad you ran into the thread and gave us an update. I totally forgot this accident happened and after recalling the moments of that day, I totally had the jitters and couldn't continue climbing after your fall myself. Glad you're OK and back to climbing. Maybe I'll run into you there someday

Glad to hear you are back climbing. GriGri's can be just as dangerous if not used properly. That said I prefer my belayer use one. 

Good to hear you're getting back into climbing. I was wondering what size rope were you using?

Forever Outside, I honestly wouldn't expect to get gear back after over three years.  I really appreciate Derek and his buddy going up to get the draws and trying to get them back to me, though!

Jan, thanks! Yeah, hopefully we run into each other out there; that'd really be awesome.  I really want to get on Uncle Ho again, soon.  

Wizard, definitely.  I guess that's true about a lot of equipment.  But the safer, the better.

Dino, I can't remember whether we were using my rope or one of the dudes I was with.  If it was mine, it was 60m, 9.8mm.