Copycat aspirations lead to rescue in Canyonlands

[goatboy]

From NPS Morning Report: (Full version available in link at bottom of post)

 

Canyonlands National Park (UT)

Search for Missing Canyoneer

 

 

 

Beginning on Saturday, July 9th, a large scale search and rescue operation was conducted in Wayne County and Canyonlands National Park for a missing 56-year-old man, Melvin Goodman of Sandy, Utah, who had been reported overdue by his wife. Goodman, after reading Aron Ralston’s account of Bluejohn Canyon, intended to complete the same technical canyoneering route as Ralston . Ralston gained international notoriety in 2003 when he amputated his own arm after being trapped in the narrow slot canyon for five days by a shifting boulder (click on “More Information” below for the Morning Report account of Ralston’s self-rescue). Goodman parked his vehicle at the trailhead parking area for the Horseshoe Canyon unit of the Maze District and began biking the 15 miles to the start of the route, carrying a 30-pound pack on his back. He attempted to find the correct canyon entry point during the glaring heat of midday, but apparently missed the conventional route and completed several down-climbs without using his rope in a side canyon of Bluejohn. Apparently the side canyon was too difficult for Goodman and he retreated by climbing back up the difficult sections. He then attempted to make his way across the desert back to his vehicle to avoid the strenuous 15 mile bike ride by road. Goodman was out for two days and nights with little water and with temperatures near 100°. On Sunday, July 10th, he arrived at the parking lot on his own and was promptly located by NPS ranger Hilda Smith . He was severely dehydrated and had suffered minor bruises and abrasions. Goodman was transferred to Allan Memorial Hospital in Moab by a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter and later transferred to the LDS hospital in Salt Lake City. The search and rescue operation involved personnel from Wayne County, Emery County, BLM, and the National Park Service. Resources included dog teams, horse teams, two fixed wing planes, a BLM contract fire helicopter, and the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter. The main responsibility of National Park Service personnel was to clear the technical portion of the main Bluejohn Canyon. Rangers Jeff Webb (Canyonlands) and Jason Ramsdell (Arches) completed most of the technical descent in the dark, completing the final 70 foot rappel at about 1 a.m. The incident was managed by Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Emory County Sheriff’s Office and the National Park Service. Since the original Ralston incident, there have been a number of minor incidents and mishaps involving both marginally equipped and experienced canyoneers seeking to follow in Ralston’s footsteps.

[submitted by Peter Fitzmaurice, Chief Ranger]

 

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So, my initial response is to wonder how much of this copy-cat stuff happens in the mountain rescue world? I don't imagine too many people read Joe Simpson's book and then try to go repeat his route on Siula Grande, but I wonder how many Everest climbers weren't even climbers before reading Krakauer? What is it about tragedies that lead the inexperienced to want to repeat (or "conquer?") what others failed on?

 

Link to full Morning Report MORNING REPORT

[JoshK]

Two things...

 

1.) Hopefully he gets charged for his rescue.

 

2.) If the homeboy who had cut his own arm had been smart enough to give a "worry time" to a contact he would have an arm right now.

[Off_White]

Actually, Mr. Ralston may have suffered (and died from) that Compartment Syndrome mentioned in the suspension trauma thread had someone been able to lift the boulder after his arm had been crushed for a couple days.

[Guest]

someone made a really good point on another thread that attempts on everest have gone up dramatically since the writing of "into thin air." i'm sure the increase in the guiding business is along the same lines. hopefully that wasn't an obvious point.

[yesican]

Actually, Mr. Ralston may have suffered (and died from) that Compartment Syndrome mentioned...

 

I'm afraid you guys are missing the point. Ralston did die on day two, and his body was inhabited by an alien. The alien wrote a book, the prose of which is hypnotic and coded to entice goobers to copycat.

 

Ask anyone who knew crack-hour before the everest incident. They'll say he's totally different now. Obviously, this is because John died on everest, and the body-snatchers got him too.

 

You really gotta be careful what you read these days.

[Dechristo]

[EWolfe]

I saw the televised interview with Ralston in the canyon where he lost his arm. It was quite a riveting story and re-enactment.

[dberdinka]

It's real interesting how people get in this mode of replicating other folks' adventures. Seems to kinda miss the whole point.

[Alpinfox]

 

I'm a copycat too.

 

 

[Camilo]

I skipped that whole stupid canyoneering thing and just chopped my arm off. Saved a lot of rescuers some hassle.

[goatboy]

That last one makes me remember a great bumpersticker: "Instead of getting remarried, I just found some woman I hated and gave her my house and half my stuff."