Thank you for your article about a climbing accident (“Accident ended a life man had turned around,” March 12).
This accident was very likely a result of an unsafe climbing practice and/or training. I am writing this, not as a criticism of that climbing party, but as information to avoid such an accident by other climbers in the future.
I offer the following for climbers for their consideration concerning climbing safety. Passion for climbing needs to be tempered with good judgment and safe climbing practices. Climbers would best consider taking training from reputable climbing programs offering both lecture and field trips that include safe climbing practices. The Mountaineers has been publishing a world-class climbing book that has been used for such training throughout the climbing world for more than 40 years.
The book describes the use of back up knots during rappelling. These knots are only one of many precautions – to prevent sliding off the end of the rope – that can be used during rappelling. This simple safety precaution, that would only take about a minute, could have saved the life of the climber at Sunshine Wall.
Further, I have always taught as well as actually carry two small thin 5-foot climbing slings under my shirt around my neck. These slings can then be used to prusik up the rappel ropes to safety if one should be stranded at the end of a rope(s). Of course, this is best practiced with a group of other climbers during a field trip or in a safe situation prior to being on a climb.
Camano Island
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