|
naitch
Sep 25, 2006, 3:45 PM
Post #1 of 6
(2696 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 17, 2002
Posts: 539
|
I heard from fellow climbers that there was an article in Saturday's local Harrisonburg newspaper about a death on the Via Ferrata. I did a search on the newspaper website but didn't turn anything up. According to those that read it, it was a 20 year old woman who unclipped both lanyards to go around a tree and fell in the process.
Does anybody have any links to newpaper reports or more info?
|
|
|
|
|
gimmeslack
Sep 25, 2006, 4:35 PM
Post #3 of 6
(2696 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 24, 2006
Posts: 136
|
http://www.dnronline.com/search_details.php?AID=6453&CHID=1&key=via%20death&title=&author=&channelid=
|
|
|
|
|
dookie
Sep 25, 2006, 5:40 PM
Post #4 of 6
(2696 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 25, 2003
Posts: 3528
|
very sad to hear. I've been on the via many times with groups from rc.com at the legendary 'oozefests' that we had there... it's a scary climb, and I always worried about someone unclipping totally without realizing it, and this happening. Especially to someone who may not have had much climbing experience. Regardless, it's never good to hear about accidents like this... :(
|
|
|
|
|
t_nut
Sep 25, 2006, 7:41 PM
Post #5 of 6
(2696 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 26, 2003
Posts: 59
|
horrible news... my heart goes out to family and friends.
|
|
|
|
|
vernjen
Sep 26, 2006, 1:26 AM
Post #6 of 6
(2696 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 30, 2005
Posts: 2
|
You were correct. The girl was from my home town - Winchester, VA. I now live in Charlottesville, VA, but still know many of the climbers in Winchester. I did not know her.
The story made front page news in the Winchester Star today (9/25/06). The paper mistakenly reported it as a fall at Seneca Rocks. The story did confirm that the girl unclipped both biners at the same time to go around a tree. At this point she slipped and fell 150 ft.
Also, the NRP website has a statement posted about the death. She was a personal guest to one of the staff members at NRP.
Pass any info on that you discover about the death. I have enjoyed climbing at NRP and hope that someday it will reopen. I can only imagine that this most recent accident will prolong any reopening.
Climb on!
Vern
|
|
|
|
|
|
