Lodestone Posted May 15, 2011 Posted May 15, 2011 I don't know what to say except that it's a crying shame that a young guy perished out there. Here's a little bit of info on the accident: http://northeastportland.katu.com/news/public-spaces/climber-rocky-butte-falls-and-dies/440459 Does anyone have any more information? I think Joseph was probably right when he said that Rocky Butte is the most dangerous place to climb in Portland. Chad Quote
dougd Posted May 15, 2011 Posted May 15, 2011 I self belayed a route there once... There were some ne're do wells hanging around at the anchors and I had visions of them cutting my rope or something... Never went back... d Quote
chris54 Posted May 15, 2011 Posted May 15, 2011 I've been there a couple times and felt a bad vibe when I was there both times. Don't intend to go back. A sad week. Quote
JosephH Posted May 15, 2011 Posted May 15, 2011 Without more details it's hard to say, but it sounds like this wasn't so much an RB environs-specific accident, per se, as one of some sort of technical oversight typical of rappelling accidents. That said, there can be plenty of distractions out there. In the end though, RB is what it is. It's home to a number of fine lines, but in a problematic setting and with serious safety issues. Then again, pretty much any crag you approach and setup on from the top should set off automatic warning signals in your head; add slick-as-snot soil conditions and you have a very dangerous place. I think many folks seriously underestimate the place because it's a short, innocuous, urban 'practice' crag - don't be one of them - be on your guard and extremely careful at all times out there. Quote
billcoe Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Ditto what he said. Sorry to hear about this. I was in Yos and got a text that this had occurred. 99.5% of the time, anytime a rap accident occurs, it seems to be user error. Damn sad nonetheless. The story said that 2 "experienced" climbers who were in their 20's were with him.....50' fall could very well be that he wasn't connected and stepped off the edge thinking he was. Any info? As usual, the newz has all but totally missed what ever it was that most likely really happened. Quote
Cobra_Commander Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Who know the details but the edge is often not obvious at Rocky Butte. Pretty dangerous in the wet seasons. The white noise and other distractions don't help either. Very sad to hear. Quote
JosephH Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 Did anyone ever end up learning more about this accident? Quote
JosephH Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 Seems odd that no one knows anything about this incident... Quote
ivan Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 they're a dime a dozen and local news usually has a fresh supply of pony-loaf to pick over in the brief intervals between weather reports and bad jokes by the mcpeople mc'ing the whole thing Quote
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