UKC

Climber Falls 100ft and Lives

On November 20, a climber abseiled off the end of her rope whilst descending the Royal Arches in Yosemite, she fell over one hundred feet, and lived to report back to us what went wrong.

"There was an almost ledge just below the anchor, and I sort of felt like I could stick it or something. I don't know, I just knew it would be okay somehow. This is all I can give you, really. I have no memory of the fall whatsoever. I think that bachman's must have slipped just as I feared, and in my grab for it, I must have let go of the red too? Somehow, I just fell right off both of them." writes Meghan.

Read Meghan's account here at www.supertopo.com

And her climbing partner Matt also gives his version:

"Her injuries included:
Fractured C2, dislocated C3 (top of cervical spine).
Several broken ribs leading to a punctured lung.
Fractured tales bone of right foot.
The usual scrapes and bruises.

Two days after a nine hour surgery (using bone from her hip to fuse C1, C2 + C3, attaching a HALO to stabilize her spine during an anticipated 3 month+ recovery) she was up WALKING (despite the foot Fx, oops). She is out of the hospital now and seems to have no long term disabilities at all. Hard to believe really."

Read Matt's account here at www.supertopo.com


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4 Jan, 2008
There are a few things I don't understand, if someone could help, I would be grateful. - "my request for him to prussik off the ropes so they cannot run through, enabling me to go onto just red". How is that done exactly? - What's a bachman? - "it's so much easier to create as you clip through the gate of the beaner for your wraps". What does she mean? - What's a purcell prussik?
4 Jan, 2008
1. I'm guessing attaching prusik knot(s) at the top of the ab ropes to take a downward pull - preventing them pulling through. 2. A bachman knot is a variant on a prusik where a krab is incorporated by wrapping the sling round both krab spine and rope. 3. See 2! 4. Not a clue - but it would appear to be a type of 'sling' as she used it for extending the system.
4 Jan, 2008
That'll learn her to tie a knot in the end of her rope.....
4 Jan, 2008
There have been a fair few famous climbers that have learnt to 'put a knot in it' after abbing off the end of a rope.
4 Jan, 2008
I must admit ive got stuck on the knot on the end of my ropes a couple of times.....
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