My crevasse fall

[Alasdair]

Ok I thought that some you would like to see a couple photos of my little accident this summer. I never really felt like telling everybody in the world what happend, but the pictures are pretty cool and hopefully it is a little warning that being in the wrong place at the wrong time kind of sucks.

 

To keep it short, I took a 40 footer to the bottom of a crevasse. I was roped up and traveling in what would be considered a safe way, and a huge hole opened up where there was no real sign of a hole existing. The bridge was at least 10 feet thick 40 feet wide and several hundred feet long. I was on the front of the rope and was standing about 5 feet past the upper edge of the crevasse and was pulled backwards into the crevasse fell about 40 or 50 feet and hit the bottom of the crevasse. THe second on the rope also was pulled in and also hit the bottom of the crevasse. The second was unhurt, I managed only some minor bumps and broken teeth. Any way I mostly thought you guys would like the befor and after photos.

 

 

Edited November 16, 2006 by Alasdair

[kurthicks]

The whole bridge collapsed? Was this on the Bakerhorn?

[Jim]

Holy cow!!!! Consider yourself very lucky. That is a Costco sized bridge collapse.

[catbirdseat]

Rope team of 2 or 3? Miraculous that you avoided serious injury. What was involved in getting out of the crevasse?

[dbb]

what did it sound like Al?

[Weekend_Climberz]

So, just to clarify: was the second the one who fell first, or was it you that fell first. If you were above the upper edge and pulled back, that who tell me the middle man fell first. Or, did the snow you were standing on above the whole also collaspe and suck you in. Glad to see you're okay

[wayne]

Shit Al , you looked fine at your weddin' Wassup?

[miller]

Did my confirmation email prompt this?

 

Thanks for sharing though - all I had were rumors from the 'hamsters.

[strumpett]

Wow, hope your alright. Where did this happen at?

[Thinker]

Damn, Al! Glad you were able to walk away from that one. Skinny little fu*kers like you always seem to fare better than us 'meatier' folks in events like this.

 

Looking forward to hearing a few more details about it.

[Alasdair]

News certainly spreads in the climbing community even when you dont think it will.

[Alasdair]

The whole bridge collapsed? Was this on the Bakerhorn?

Rainier

[Alasdair]

Rope team of 2 or 3? Miraculous that you avoided serious injury. What was involved in getting out of the crevasse?

There were 5 on the rope.

[Alasdair]

what did it sound like Al?

It was apparently very loud and was heard by several teams a long ways down the mountain. I have no memory of sound as I was falling.

[pink]

did ya summit?

[J_Fisher]

Rainier

 

Was this on the upper Emmons/Winthrop in late August, by any chance? We heard second hand of a big bridge collapse when our party was up there ~Aug 21. It was pretty wild seeing the boot track go up to the edge of a huge crevasse into nothingness, then start up again on the other side, maybe 30 feet out and 20 feet higher. Getting around that hole was a big PITA, too

 

Glad you were OK

[Stefan]

whoa. that was a biggie.

 

Glad to hear you are still typing.

[Gary_Yngve]

holy crap!

[OrganDonor]

holy crap!

 

Agreed

Edited January 3, 2007 by OrganDonor

[carolyn]

Wow!

Glad you and everyone else involved came out alright (though dental expenses can be outrageous!).

 

Thanks for the photo. it definately puts into perspective what a mountain can do.

[RocNoggin]

did you answer this already and I miss it, who fell first? how were you pulled back into the crevase after you were past it? why wasnt the third able to catch the second before they hit bottom? (thats a long fall!)

 

good to hear that you all fared well! :-)