Report-Another Rappelling Death
Be careful out there and make sure to check your anchors (and each other).
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/poor-rappel-setup-led-to-asu-students-fatal-fall-7468789
Instead of a straightforward anchor, Conrad and another student set up an anchor often used in canyoneering called a "biner block."
First, a piece of webbing with a metal link was secured to a large rock. One end of the trio's climbing rope ran through the link and was then attached by a clove-hitch knot to a carabiner. That left about 10 feet of rope free at the top; the rest of the rope was thrown off the edge of Coon Bluff to use for the rappel.
We won't get into detail here on exactly how the biner block works. However, as another canyoneering web site teaches — with capital letters for emphasis — "it is VERY IMPORTANT that it is PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE for the blocking knot or carabiner to pull through the" metal link.
No one besides the three women inspected the anchor before they began rappelling at about 11 a.m. The first two students, including Jessica Jia, Conrad's best friend, made it down successfully. They were lucky, it seems.
By herself at the top, Conrad walked off the cliff edge and began her descent. The end of the rope came free from the anchor and Conrad began free-falling. People in the area heard a sudden scream. A man on the other side of the river yelled, "Oh my God, she fell!"
Conrad slammed into a lower part of the cliff, her shattered body coming to rest upside down in a tree. She'd been wearing a helmet at the time, but it wrenched to one side when she hit her head. The entire length of the orange climbing rope had fallen with her. Her injuries were "severe," the report states.
Clarissa Chapman, a medic who was training nearby with the PCSO team, was among the first at the scene. She saw that Conrad wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse. Chapman and the PCSO team members tried CPR, oxygen and a defibrillator, but nothing could save the student.
Report-Another Rappelling Death
Edit: nevermind. Figured it out.
Report-Another Rappelling Death
Is this the only "clove-hitch" (as far as we know) related fatality in the sport that we are aware of?
I just don't see the clove-hitch ever failing, unless stated above if it was a munter.
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Report-Another Rappelling Death
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CanyonFreak
Regarding the video: Although this video shows a "failure" of the clove hitch it is also not properly dressed. Try not dressing any knot tight and neat like taught and your'e likely to have a failure or unintended consequence at some point.
It is alarming to think of the clove walking but...I'm more concerned with the fact someone gets onto rappel without visual inspecting and re-evaluating the anchor they are about to rap off. If someone lacks the diligence to pay attention to all details for the few moments in a canyon we are doing technical work, even the simplest system might not keep them safe in the long run.
I was about to reply to Hanks video but you did a good job in summarizing my thoughts as well.
While the clove-hitch has worked perfectly for my gang and I for the last 14 years without incidence, it is good to see the potential of the clove hitch coming undone. Something the entire canyoneering family should be aware of.
And the suggestion for the triple-clove is probably best for the masses. It is simple and just takes 2 more seconds to add the other loop and make it more secure.
But yes, I agree 100% with the root of the problem (and NOT being the knot or hitch itself) being the inspection of the knot. My group and I personally inspect and test (weight) the anchor and knots before every rappel. There can't be any room for complacency.
"Leaders" of any group need to pound this issue at every rap to every rappeller (noobs to vets) to the point of annoyance (essentially).
This should be canyoneering 101....(hmm speaking of which...that reminds me of something...)
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