Accidents in the Ice Park

This is page is meant to review some accidents that have happened in the ice park and to discuss how the could have been prevented. Learning from others mistakes is easier than learning from your own. Most all of the accidents in the ice park were related to human error.

Falling Ice in the Schoolroom

The Accident: Winter 2006/2007. A man was struck by falling ice on the far side of the river causing him to go the emergency room in Montrose where he recieved many stitches on his eye and face. The ice was dislodged by a man doing an assisted rappel with his daughter into the schoolroom.

Analysis: The low angled nature of the Schoolroom allows for ice to bounce long distances in all directions. Extra precaution should be taken when climbing in the schoolroom on a busy day. There is no reason to rappel into the schoolroom. There are two approaches that are both very easy on either side of the Schoolroom. If the approaches are too difficult, perhaps you should not be climbing there. It is also important to be aware of where others are around you. Consider yourself in a danger zone at all times at the bottom of the gorge.

Belaying Accident

The Accident: Winter 2005/2006. The Ouray Rescue Team was called in to assist a climber and belayer in a top roping accident. Yes, both the climber and belayer were injured. The belayer was standing up and belaying the climber off of his harness. The climber fell and pulled the belayer off of his feet. The belayer hit his head on a rock and was knocked out. The climber was dropped a short distance when the belayer fell injuring his head.

Analysis: Belaying a climber below you off of your harness is almost always a bad idea if the rope is not re-directed to a bomber piece of gear above the belay. A better solution is just to belay off of the anchor. The belayer should clip into the anchor as well to prevent falling into the gorge. This way, if the climber falls and is injured, the belayer can easily escape the belay to get help to the injured climber.