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Climbing Information:
Injury Treatment and Prevention:
Belayer Failure = Broken Back:
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gblauer
Moderator
Feb 12, 2007, 8:05 PM
Views: 18023
Registered: Oct 4, 2002
Posts: 2824
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On Saturday, 2/10, I lead an easy 5.7 as a warm down. I got to the top of climb, clipped the last bolt, called out to my belayer and let her know that I was done with the climb and that I was going to drop off the wall. She acknowledged me and off I came.
Edited: I called down to her, let her know that I was at the top of the climb. I was a foot above my last bolt, so I elected to let go and "drop" off the wall rather than sling the horn. She acknowledged my intentions and said that she was ready for me.
I never felt the "tug" of the catch and continue to ride to rope all the way down to the floor. I landed on my feet, crunched into a ball, rolled on to my back. I immediately felt a "bloom" of searing pain across my lower back. Two days later, I am out of the hospital with an L2 compression fracture.
What did I learn?
1) It can happen to anyone (yes, even you)
2) You are only as strong as the weakest link in your system
3) Cull the herd; select your belayers carefully and only allow those you trust to give you a belay
4) Keep your circle small; know your belayers, constantly check on their potential for distraction, moods and energy level
So, several months of hard core training down the drain with one 30 foot fall. I really hope I can get my head back together.
Climb on.
(This post was edited by gblauer on Feb 12, 2007, 8:47 PM)
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Edit Log:
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Post edited by gblauer
(Moderator) on Feb 12, 2007, 8:46 PM
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Post edited by gblauer
(Moderator) on Feb 12, 2007, 8:47 PM
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