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Eldo accident reported in DC

Original Post
Erik W · · Santa Cruz, CA · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 280

Says rescuers are responding to an 0850 accident this morning on the Yellow Spur. Anyone have updated info? Hopefully the reported fall distance is wrong. Best wishes to the climber.

dailycamera.com/news/ci_153…

Edit: DC just updated report as fatality. My condolences to the family and friends of the climber.

AJS · · Boulder, CO · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 25

Condolences to the family and friends. Sad news.

dameeser · · denver · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 271

Please send good vibes to the family and everyone involved. I don't know how it happened, but two pieces popped and the rope broke. They were on the second pitch of yellow spur.

If and when the partner feels the need to explain then there might be more details. I was hiking up the trail when it happened.

Truly a tragedy.

TresSki Roach · · Santa Fe, NM · Joined May 2002 · Points: 605

Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry to hear about this. Anxious to hear who fell. Hoping it wasn't someone I know. Saddened regardless. Condolences to all involved.

dameeser · · denver · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 271

80 feet sounds about right, 40 when the rope broke.

davebks · · Louisville, Co · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 60

Unfortunately they confirmed it to be a fatal fall...no other details available.
dailycamera.com/news/ci_153…

Marc Squiddo · · Mountain View, CA · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 15

lord that is so sad. Thoughts and condolences to family and friends.

crankenstein · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 0

That is sad and terrible. Catastrophic rope failure is so rare. Condolences to all.

Paul Crowder · · Louisville, CO · Joined Aug 2001 · Points: 515

Ditto on the condolences for all concerned.

dameeser · · denver · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 271

Im still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the rope broke. I could not tell exactly where the last piece of pro was, and his partner said he did not fall on the anchor.

It happened so fast, but when I looked up it looked like the rope was arresting his fall. He was just at the lip, right below the belay station of the 2nd pitch when the rope broke. Im wondering if when he fell, the rope went over that ledge and rubbed to the point of failure.

The rope broke maybe 3 or so feet from his harness.

Pete Spri · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 347
dameeser wrote:Im still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the rope broke. I could not tell exactly where the last piece of pro was, and his partner said he did not fall on the anchor. It happened so fast, but when I looked up it looked like the rope was arresting his fall. He was just at the lip, right below the belay station of the 2nd pitch when the rope broke. Im wondering if when he fell, the rope went over that ledge and rubbed to the point of failure. The rope broke maybe 3 or so feet from his harness.
Makes you wonder how old the rope was, and if they had ever cut the ends off (to get rid of the non-elastic part after lots of falls).
Wally · · Denver · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

dameeser - ouch - gut wrenching to hear this. The pro is tricky, and there are a couple of challenging moves, on the second pitch of Yellow Spur.

A cut rope - one of our worse can't happen nightmares. Obviously there will be interest in the rope - diameter, how old, how much use, manufacturer, etc - hopefully this information comes out when the time is appropriate.

I typically climb Tuesday nights at Eldo with friends. Tonight will feel heavy. A beer will be tipped in remembrance of our fallen comrade.

So sorry to hear this news. Condolences.

Wally

Aaron M · · Westminster, CO · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 140

Here we are doing what WE do best...speculating.

But, unless the rope was corroded or it was cut, ropes don't break. climbinglife.com/tech-tips/…

This is extremely sad news and my thoughts are with the climbers friends and family!

Ed Earl Johansen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0
Aaron M wrote:Here we are doing what WE do best...speculating. But, unless the rope was corroded or it was cut, ropes don't break. climbinglife.com/tech-tips/… This is extremely sad news and my thoughts are with the climbers friends and family!
Although rare, they do cut over sharp rock. I have seen one "break" under rappel from a kid who might have weighed @ 140 lbs or so myself.

Sorry to hear of the accident, my heart and well wishes go out to the family and friends who are undoubtedly hurting bad over this.
Bobby Hanson · · Spokane, WA · Joined Oct 2001 · Points: 1,230

Sad news. Thoughts and prayers for his friends and family.

John McNamee · · Littleton, CO · Joined Jul 2002 · Points: 1,690

Very sad to hear about another accident in Eldo today. It's turning out to be another bad summer.

Deepest sympathy and condolences to families and friends.

Cindy Mitchell · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 65
dameeser wrote:Im still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the rope broke.
Wow, I agree. What the ?????
This is truly horrible news. Condolences to all who knew and loved him.
talkinrocks · · Boulder, CO · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 80

So Sad indeed! Does anyone know anything about the climber? Hoping its not someone I know. Condolences to family and friends. Cut ropes is my biggest fear when climbing.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266
dameeser wrote:Im still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the rope broke. I could not tell exactly where the last piece of pro was, and his partner said he did not fall on the anchor. It happened so fast, but when I looked up it looked like the rope was arresting his fall. He was just at the lip, right below the belay station of the 2nd pitch when the rope broke. Im wondering if when he fell, the rope went over that ledge and rubbed to the point of failure. The rope broke maybe 3 or so feet from his harness.
Wow! That's sounds like a pretty traumatic thing to witness. Not sure how I would deal seeing something like that.

Condolences to you as well as his partner, family and friends.
Malcolm Daly · · Hailey, ID · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 380

Oh Man... This is horrible news. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends. Let's all try to be safe out there.
Mal

Kirk Woerner · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2001 · Points: 150

This is awful news. dameeser, I'm sorry for what you witnessed. The trauma will fade but it will take time. Probably much more for the partner, and maybe never for the family :(

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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