The Death Thread

[Kuya]

I know I know...it's not "Canyoneering" at all according to Bootboy and Scott P - it's just a rappel down a giant waterfall.

[PG Rob]

Not sure of the details, but Tom (@ratagonia) references a death from rock fall at rappel 6 in Lodge canyon.

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/.../lodge-canyon/

Look at the last paragraph under "The Business"
"Loose rock falling on the last rappel station has been responsible for one fatality. Wear a helmet, clip into the belay, and pay attention to what you are doing."

[TKPH]

http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?62724

Boss Hog handline/spotting difficulties.

[Slot Machine]

Thanks Rob, I'll include that one.

TKPH, enven though the Boss Hog accident required rescue, and it IS an informative report, from what I can gather the risk of dying was minimal. It's in the 'broken ankle category', it just happens that the broken bones were 4 vetebral processes.

[jman]

Not sure of the details, but Tom (@ratagonia ) references a death from rock fall at rappel 6 in Lodge canyon.

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/.../lodge-canyon/

Look at the last paragraph under "The Business"
"Loose rock falling on the last rappel station has been responsible for one fatality. Wear a helmet, clip into the belay, and pay attention to what you are doing."

Is that the Sasha Simpson accident back in 1999, perhaps? Or is this another accident?

[ratagonia]

Is that the Sasha Simpson accident back in 1999, perhaps? Or is this another accident?

Jan 21, 1999, to be specific. I sent the full text from the Zbook to Bob a few moments ago.

Tom

[Jolly Green]

Not sure if this fits the bill but I'll throw it on the chopping block. In June 2006, Nolan Porter, Nathan Cresswell, and Ray Miller plan on doing Behunin but drop into Heaps instead due to GPS error and lack of a map. After talking to Ray about this, the 2 that went through all of Heaps in early June without wetsuits flirted with moderate-severe hypothermia constantly in the terminal narrows before SAR located them.
http://home.nps.gov/applications/dig...vents&id=23632

[Jolly Green]

Sorry, here's a better explanation. Although Ray told me there are some inaccuracies added by the author to make this a better story.

http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201003/slickrock.aspx

[ratagonia]

There was that one in Shenanigans - father tried to climb up a cliffband in the dark (on the hike out), fell, broke his pelvis (life-threatening)... eventually evacuated. Uh, 2005???

Tom

[Slot Machine]

Thanks Tom for sharing that portion of your book! It is excellent.

Below is an excerpt from the book; the intro to the accident report section:

Zion National Park has one of the best technical rescue teams in the National Park System. Still - backcountry visitors should be prepared to take care of themselves. The existence of an excellent rescue team is no excuse for reckless behavior. Rescue is always several hours to several days away, and does little for people who are already dead.

[Slot Machine]

There was that one in Shenanigans - father tried to climb up a cliffband in the dark (on the hike out), fell, broke his pelvis (life-threatening)... eventually evacuated. Uh, 2005???

Tom

Hmmm, it sounds like a great tale to learn from... a more complete story would be helpful.

[accadacca]

This one won't make the list, but it's a good read and a touch before you joined @Slot Machine

Several got their panties in a bunch over this predicament...

http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthre...yites-in-Kolob

[Slot Machine]

Sorry, here's a better explanation. Although Ray told me there are some inaccuracies added by the author to make this a better story.

http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201003/slickrock.aspx

Wow, that sounds like a horrible ordeal, and yes, a nearly fatal error. I'll add it to the list. Thank you for sharing JG!

[ratagonia]

Sorry, here's a better explanation. Although Ray told me there are some inaccuracies added by the author to make this a better story.

http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201003/slickrock.aspx

A more thorough, non-dramatized for TV version can be found here:

http://canyoncollective.com/threads/...behunin.18756/

(recently transferred from the dinosaurus Yahoogroupsis)

Tom

[Jolly Green]

A more thorough, non-dramatized for TV version can be found here:

http://canyoncollective.com/threads/...behunin.18756/

(recently transferred from the dinosaurus Yahoogroupsis)

Tom

Much better version. Gracias.

[accadacca]

Up for debate from 2007. Seems like it should be...

North-Wash-Canyoneering-Rescue
http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25566

[PG Rob]

30-40 foot ground fall in Sandthrax could have easily ended in death.

http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthre...port-Sandthrax

[ratagonia]

David Fleisher and Kim Ellis were not on a Scout trip. It was, however, an official LDS Youth Group trip.

I know they are spoken of as 'Boy Scouts' and they thought of themselves as Boy Scouts, but the BSA exercised very little control in those days and the authorization for their trip was signed off by their LDS Bishop.

Tom

[Scott P]

There was that one in Shenanigans - father tried to climb up a cliffband in the dark (on the hike out), fell, broke his pelvis (life-threatening)... eventually evacuated. Uh, 2005???

I remember someone fell from up high in Middle Lep under similar circumstances. There was a big discussion on the canyons group.

Not sure if it was life threatening, but Steve Susswien (spelling?) also go stuck in Chambers.

[ratagonia]

Not sure if it was life threatening, but Steve Susswien (spelling?) also fell in Chambers.

Steve didn't fall. He went into a narrow place voluntarily and then could not get out, easily.

Tom