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markanite
Aug 9, 2004, 6:33 PM
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This is how real it can become (and allot worse).
I came back to this location a month after the accident to take these pictures.
http://www.sillanite.com/view_image.php?id=97
Those are trees in the background for size comparison. The rock was one large piece but exploded on impact to the ground and broke up into the multiple "smaller" pieces and dozens of fist sized pieces that were thrown in random directions.
http://www.sillanite.com/view_image.php?id=98
The brown spot near the top, to the left of the rope is where the rock came from. I fell ten feet hit a ledge. The rock hit my leg and left me with two large sized scars today. Threw me off the ledge (upside down now) and at that point I attempted to catch the rock to slow it for my belayer (in retrospect this was a joke ... the rock ways approx. 2000 pounds) where my entire right arm was cut up. I ended up falling about 25 feet head first. I believe I was hit on the head (was wearing helmet) because the people who were with me apparently were screaming at me for a good 30 seconds before I responded (when I was hanging upside down ... likely knocked out).
The rock missed my belayer by one foot though he was hit by the shrapnel. He was using an ATC so if he was hurt (or worse) that would be it for me also (still 50 ft in the air).
This route had been cleaned ... moral of the story ... I was inexperienced at the time ... if you are worried about a small sized rock warn your belayer and pull directly down on it (NOT OUT) ... if you are worried about a large sized rock don't mess with it. (though for the record I dont remember thinking that the rock wasn't solid ...)
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coldclimb
Aug 9, 2004, 6:36 PM
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Ooooh, man. Glad you're OK... that's a serious rock. :shock:
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petsfed
Aug 9, 2004, 6:43 PM
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Always be on the lookout for rope eating big rocks. You and your belayer can survive unscathed, but the rope may be cut nonetheless.
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overlord
Aug 9, 2004, 6:45 PM
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you were REALLY lucky.
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skateman
Aug 9, 2004, 7:53 PM
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Holy crap! I would say everyone in a 50 foot radius was really lucky!
Ouch!
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minjin
Aug 9, 2004, 8:22 PM
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that sounds pretty bad, but it's just a day in the life at maple canyon. i lost count of the number of cobbles we pulled off (some of which were bigger than the belayer's torso). still, that looks like one hell of a piece of rockfall.
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timstich
Aug 10, 2004, 2:56 AM
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Mark,
What route did this happen on? It almost looks familiar.
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markanite
Aug 10, 2004, 6:29 PM
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In reply to: Mark, What route did this happen on? It almost looks familiar.
If I remember correctly your from Texas so it likely does. This is the 5.10 on the area known as Medicine Wall located in North San Antonio.
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darth_gaydar
Aug 10, 2004, 6:33 PM
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Eight lives left!
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markanite
Aug 10, 2004, 6:36 PM
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In reply to: Eight lives left!
Haha ... I will need 'em at this rate.
Mark
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markanite
Aug 10, 2004, 6:42 PM
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Another extension to the story because there seems to be interest.
http://www.sillanite.com/view_image.php?id=99
Though this picture doesn't give you a feel of the true size of the rock ... notice the position of the bolt (look through the branches) compared to where the rock blew. This bolt caught me. Kinda a freaky concept considering if the bolter decided to bolt two inches to the right that woulda been a death trap for me. Luckly the bolter new what he was doing. Often they don't.
The reason why I fell so far is that I had just asked for hords of slack because I was bomber (on the rock that blew). And the belayer was forced to pay out slack while trying to run from the falling bolder. He did a great job considering the situation.
Mark
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the_antoon
Aug 10, 2004, 7:03 PM
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:shock:
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sarcat
Aug 10, 2004, 7:49 PM
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Props to both of you for being attentive. Glad your belayer was otherwise untouched.
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timstich
Aug 11, 2004, 12:24 AM
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In reply to: In reply to: Mark, What route did this happen on? It almost looks familiar. If I remember correctly your from Texas so it likely does. This is the 5.10 on the area known as Medicine Wall located in North San Antonio.
Actually, I've never climbed in San Antonio. This is a very new area I assume, maybe even the one I got a topo for once a few years ago. In any case, glad you survived the rockfall.
-Tim
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lv2climb7
Aug 11, 2004, 12:50 AM
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5555
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okie_redneck
Aug 11, 2004, 2:39 AM
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Glad to hear you made it through that without being injured worse. I'm trying to avoid something similar by cleaning from the top down at a place I'm working on. I've been knocking some stuff that would be really scary to grab from beneath. I'd hate to not know how loose the rock is there and try to climb some overhang I haven't gotten to yet. The stuff I've fractured off (no crowbars or anything) has been less than 500lbs. I'd hate to be in the way of that 2000lb one. Being that big, I can understand why you could assume it wasn't going to come loose.
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granitegod
Aug 16, 2004, 6:51 PM
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Registered: Jan 21, 2003
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Dude, that's nasty.
But looking at that crag, I have to ask....ain't there some better rock around that choss heap?
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markanite
Aug 29, 2004, 4:15 AM
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In reply to: Dude, that's nasty. But looking at that crag, I have to ask....ain't there some better rock around that choss heap?
I wish ... I live in San Antonio, TX
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killclimbz
Aug 29, 2004, 11:35 AM
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Registered: May 6, 2000
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That is the thing with a lot of sport climbing crags, especially limestone. You can expect holds to blow. I can't tell you how many times at places like Shelf road or Ten Sleep Canyon that I have had a hold blow up on me. Many other types of rock have victimized me too. That is why it is always a great idea to make sure your belayer is out of the line of fire, and your rope too. As much as that is possible at least. Recongnizing badly bolted lines and testing holdsl, working out different safer variations on a route will help. Even with all that, sometimes a hold just doesn't want to hold you anymore. Way to not become a statistic.
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missedyno
Aug 31, 2004, 1:05 AM
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wow that's quite the rock... and sounds like quite the fall.
how has it been for you getting back on the rock?
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