4 Attachment(s)
Rap accident in Rubio Canyon; 60' fall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T4FT2SHFLo
On Thalehaha Falls in Rubio Canyon, Altadena, CA, my buddy rigged his autoblock incorrectly. When he slipped on the mossy face, he sadly instinctively let go of the brake line. He fell 60'. It was miraculous that he walked away with nothing but deep bruises. Credit the shallow pool, slight slope of the face, landing on his butt, and the redirection the autoblock created which contributed some friction.
I actually haven't rappelled first in ages, always the leader now and checking others' rigging. But he wanted me to get pics and video of his coming down. He has done about 25 rappels total in his canyoneering career, including the 100/120' Leontine falls in the same canyon. I was concerned, I cautioned him, but he insisted. So I went down.
His mistake, as verified by still from the video, was that he didn't clip his autoblock 'biner into the leg loop. Rather it was above the leg loop. Of course it slid up and couldn't cinch the brake line.
In hindsight, a fireman's belay would have prevented this. Such is the risk of a 2 man descent and the desire to get video/pics. I don't know if I should have insisted on going last, or forgone the pics and done a fireman's belay, or done like I did and granted that a canyoneer is responsible for themselves at some point in their career.
Thankfully his ego is the most bruised of all.
Edit:
Below is the moment of head impact, complete with spark off the rock from one of the helmet's rear rivets.
Attachment 52010Attachment 52011Attachment 52008
Below is the autoblock rigging, where we see the 'biner (C) clipped not at the block's girth (A) but beyond the leg loop buckle (B).
Attachment 52009