2 Fatalities on Descent, el Potrero

[ex-powderbroker]

This is some awful stuff:

http://www.climbing.com/news/two-cli...-chico-mexico/

I'm going to the gym to practice tying safety knots. jesus.

[hutash]

Yep, knot the ends of your rappel rope. An all too common accident.

While I love the convenience of a rappel, I prefer an easy walk off.

[sal the salmon]

really sad. a good reminder to take even then mundane things seriously in the mountains. sounds like these guys had a lot of experience. thoughts to friends and family.

[LightRanger]

Super shitty.

Prevented an accident at Church Bowl (Ahwahnee area) back in college by yelling at somebody who somehow thought their rope was on the ground and the ends were still about 20-25 feet up. Almost rapped off the end and would have without me yelling at them. No knots. Had to build an anchor in an awkward spot. I was on lead on something easy a little ways over and just happened to be looking.

[MakersTeleMark]

I watched and heard a guy rap off the end of his rope while he was doing a fix and blast on rainbow buttress and I was setting up a ledge on spaceshot.

Absolutely terrifying. The thud echoing in the empty wintertime Zion canyon will live with me forever.

Knot your rope!

[itsnowjoke]

It's knot that hard. Jeebus!

[spook]

wow that would suck having the last thoughts going through your head being I'm going to die because I didn't tie a knot on the end of my rope.

[Bromontana]

really sad. a good reminder to take even then mundane things seriously in the mountains. sounds like these guys had a lot of experience. thoughts to friends and family.

Yeah, simple mistake and it's over.. makes me queasy seeing more committed and experienced climbers drop the ball. Humbling shit.

[powtario]

Stuff like that is why I don't mind keeping my climbing to a gym.

[concretejungle]

Stuff like that is why I don't mind keeping my climbing to a gym.

Yeah, no one has ever been lowered off the end of a rope at a gym. You're probably more likely to die driving to the gym than getting lowering off the end of a rope as well.

[ShoNuff]

Tragic indeed. I have climbed both of those routes with my wife. Sad times in a happy place. Vibes to their families.

[hutash]

Yeah, no one has ever been lowered off the end of a rope at a gym. You're probably more likely to die driving to the gym than getting lowering off the end of a rope as well.

Not to mention all the nasty cooties in the shower. I'll stick with outdoor climbing and just knot my rappels.

[~mikey b]

Mr Darwin to the white courtesy phone please!

[Flounder]

While I love the convenience of a rappel, I prefer an easy walk off.

Agreed. When I have to rappel it's knots if it's multi pitch and a prusik for a backup. Then again I'm a super wuss and anchor and back things up at a greater level than some of my friends. I'd rather be slower and safer.

[WaistDeepGroomers]

A cotributor of ours was down for for a climbing trip when it happened. pretty moving story from her perspective here: http://www.tetongravity.com/story/ad...ath-in-potrero

[mall walker]

I watched and heard a guy rap off the end of his rope while he was doing a fix and blast on rainbow buttress and I was setting up a ledge on spaceshot.

Absolutely terrifying. The thud echoing in the empty wintertime Zion canyon will live with me forever.

Knot your rope!

Did he died?

[MakersTeleMark]

Did he died?

Did not died. I cleaned and rapped down and tracked him down at the hospital very late that night.

Full body bruise, no fractures. He hit the only tree out there which broke his fall enough not to died him.