Grand Junction rappel fatality...

Load and test while attached to the anchor prior to launch...as a reminder...

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/122286490/climber-death-near-grand-junction-co

My friend's coworker was an eyewitness to this accident near Andy's Loop. Jonathan was with a group of new climbers practicing rappels as a shakedown for a canyoneering trip. He set up a knot block rappel , clipped his device into the wrong strand, loaded it without testing it and fell thirty feet. He died about a minute later.

Stay vigilant out there folks.

Brian, do you feel comfortable writing a report at www.canyonaccident.org?

Not really, Sonny. Just something I caught online. I don't have any further knowledge other than the link.

Maybe someone in Colorado familiar with the accident can post something or add details. There's really not much to go off except that third hand report.

This was a group that was practicing rappelling in preparation for canyoneering. A biner block was being used and the subject set up his rappel on the wrong side of the block. The unfortunate result was a fatal 30-foot fall.

Devastating. Double and triple check everything, even when you feel it is not necessary or inconvenient.

So sorry to hear about this.

The recent series of deaths, from the Heaps one on, are just emotionally devastating.

Re the thread topic, how about not throwing the pull side of the rope down until the last person is ready to descend?

or anchoring the pull side, "just in case".

How about people not using techniques they are not familiar with, as a general rule.

Tom

This has become standard practice in my days out; clipping the bag with the pullside to the anchor means there's only one dangleto choose from. Takes zero extra time.

Tom, I understand your point, but the victim was from a "group of new climbers" who, by definition would be inexperienced to varying degrees. If fault should be found, I think it lays with the person(s?) who arranged the "shakedown". That person or persons should have anticipated that new climbers might not be familiar with said canyoneering technique.

This is still so sadly tragic, and some of the deaths are due to the same damn mistakes, made over and over again.

Total agreement.

Captain Obvious Here: yes, new skills should be learned and practiced under experienced supervision.