Posted by bufffan8 on July 22, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Free climbing is obviously risky. Leads to free falling.

Posted by noboresident on July 22, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you Mr. Grasp-of-the-Obvious.
Any other keen insight to share? Like, "It's warmer during the day than at night." or "Duct tape is sticky on one side, smooth on the other."

Posted by boulderhippie on July 22, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

lets have some respect for the fallen during these tender moments. stay tuned for the smart classy people to tell you how and when you should comment.

Posted by bufffan8 on July 22, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

here's one. Nobo has issues with anger.

Posted by fgd135 on July 22, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Werksupp and March o Dimes are hardly death routes, I wonder what's goin' on the canyon.

Posted by 555chief on July 22, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love the helmet comment in the article...helmets are not saviours. I'm not saying they are bad or good, however, a fall from fifty feet on to your head and a helmet probably won't help.

Posted by Guli on July 22, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A fall to you head from 50 feet with a helmet on would certainly be many times better than with no helmet...

Let's send good vibes to this guy and hope he pulls through.

Posted by clackmon on July 22, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

who is the genius that asked if this route would be closed because two people happened to fall from it recently? unbelievable.

its pretty incredible someone could fall almost 60' and still be breathing. here's hoping he recovers.

anyone that's successfully completed this route recently want to confirm that there isn't a wasp nest or rabid pigeons or something around 50' up?

Posted by Dunkterfunk on July 22, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Excuse my ignoance, but is free-climbing without ropes? I really hope this guy is okay, but climbing without ropes seems incredibly stupid....unless of course you are being chased by a dog which is off its leash.

Posted by fgd135 on July 22, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, the paper never gets it right. A person climbing a technical (i.e. steep dangerous otherwise) route without ropes is considered to be "free-soloing". A couple of rockclimbers that are climbing the route but using ropes and anchors are considered to be, in this context, "free-climbing". Confusing eh?
The poor fellow who has tragically fallen and died in the previous incident on the Bastille was "free-climbing" with a partner, (belayer) using a rope, I believe. Apparently his rock anchors, if he put any into the rock at all, either pulled out when he fell or somehting else happened. Maybe RMRG would know the answer, obviously the DC does not...

Posted by clackmon on July 22, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

fgd according to his belayer the gentleman from superior that was the victim in last week's tragedy had placed 4 pieces of protection and was working on a 5th when he suddenly fell. his protection failed resulting in a groundfall.

Posted by memailme on July 22, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh! My heart skipped a beat reading this headline. So, close to the other accident. How sad..

My thoughts are with him for a hopefull recovery and ongoing with Preston Brennan's family.

Posted by cgjj1 on July 22, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Was it a suicide attempt? Why would you climb without ropes. Sounds pretty dumb.

Posted by FrictionSoul on July 23, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't say what features exists on Werk Supp but I know the Bastille is regarded as the most popular climb in Colorado, if not the planet. So many people have climbed it - myself included - that pitch 2 has a great crack for pro. Problem is that it's overused and smooth as glass. The pro doesn't stick in there.

SO popular is this route that Plan B is Werk Supp. If it were up to me, I would upgrade the ratings on those climbs. All of Eldo is a lot harder than the ratings imply. A 5.10 in Eldo might actually feel like a 5.11+ in say the Owen's River Gorge, or other sport climbing places.

Guli:
You're wrong. It's exactly that kind of thinking that gives people a false sense of safety and security. Helmets are great for very short falls but even then there are always rock features that can bypass it. Most of the climbers I know are trad; they wear helmets to guard against falling rocks, simple obstacles, and the like. Kinda hard to explain but everyone of us has banged our head on the rock during a belay for whatever reasons, and in Eldo, there are plenty of them.

Posted by Atheist007 on July 23, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My sister's boyfriend was Preston Brennan the man who died last Friday from a fall while climbing with her. She was belaying from below and he was the lead. They were climbing with full safety gear and helmets.
Anyway, Prestons sister (Margo), who has been very supportive of Alison (my sister), Told her that she wanted to see were Preston fell. Alison was reluctant to go at first, but then thought maybe it would help in the healing process. They get to the sight and as they approach Alison sees that a climber is on the cliff (climbing solo with no helmet or ropes) in the same position as Preston was when he fell. She tells Margo she doesn't think she can handle watching this after what happened to Preston, and so starts back to the car and Margo proceeded to the bottom of the cliff. Then Alison suddenly hears a scream, turns around and see's that the climber had fallen right beside Margo! He landed on his feet but broke the bones in his legs and he also hit his head on the rocks. He fell about 50 feet. Alison said she (Alison) didn't see him hit the rocks- thank god, but ran back and tried to help Him with Margo who witnessed the whole thing-others arrived, so they ran to get help from the rangers. The same helicopter air lifted him out. So what was supposed to bring some much needed resolution to all the trauma from last week ended up being an instant replay. Too freaky for words.... Alison is the Blond women in the video and Margo is the other.
Unbelievable-I hope he survives this awful accident. My best to Margo and Alison.

Posted by Buzz on July 23, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks for the excellent report. All us (except for the sociopaths that inhabit online forums) send their deepest sympathy to all involved, and hope for the recovery of the man who fell yesterday (who might not make it).

On another note, this is truly a bizarre story. Two guys have fallen from not only the same route (out of 500 possible) but from the exact same spot on the same route. While loved ones of the first person (who died Friday) are watching.

I did Werk Supp this morning, and other than this outrageous coincidence, and a nice set of flowers and note left by Mr Brennan's relatives at the base, there was nothing unusual about the route; it is in normal condition.

I did hear (UNconfirmed) that the gentleman who fell yesterday while free-soloing was from Oklahoma and didn't appear solid at the start.

Posted by memailme on July 23, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Atheist007:

I got a lump in my throat reading your post. It's hard to wrap your head around a series of events that freaky. My heart goes out to your sister and Preston's sister. I am so very, very sorry for all concerned.

Take care of each other.

Posted by CharlesDanforth on July 24, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Definitely a strange synchronisity at work here. My condolences to the families of both climbers and my best hopes for the recovery of the second climber.

Posted by itshercandy on July 24, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you to all the climbers who have helped by explaining what's like to climb out in Eldorado. There is some jargon that I don't understand still - pro must be protection, i.e. ropes? Trad maybe means traditional but I don't know what that is in relation to rock climbing. In spite of not understanding it all, it is definitely helpful to read your explanations. Thanks.

Posted by gschrodt on July 25, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Trad climbing is roped climbing using traditional gear. Active cams and passive nuts/stoppers... This is different than sport climbing, where you just clip bolts drilled into the rock with quickdraws... Pro is just short for protection ie: cams, nuts, stoppers...