Let's be careful out there

Another hiker dies in the PNW.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Authorities say a family hiking near the Gorge was struck by a mudslide Friday — the same day a man who was hiking a mile away died after falling 40 feet.

Authorities say the man, who has not been identified, fell over a cliff and was killed while hiking near Triple Falls.

In a separate accident, authorities say a Portland family of five was struck by a landslide while hiking above Horsetail Falls.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says the two adults suffered serious head injuries.

The couple's 10-year-old daughter has been treated for a serious leg injury. Two other children had minor injuries.

Authorities did not release their names.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

Rick, I saw a report on another board about a fatal accident back East. In that one, based on the reports, the climber was experienced and was leading. He had climbed about 20 ft past his first pro at 10 ft. and when he slipped, he flipped over on the way down and suffered a head injury from the groundfall. His belayer was pretty much helpless to stop the fall, according to what I read.

btw, there was a very big rockfall in Yosemite a few days ago. The slide hit the cabins at Curry Village, but fortunately, just a few minor injuries. Apparently a few hundred tons of rock peeled off of Glacier Point and into the Valley below.

Latest local news I could find on the Oregon accidents:

More details re the man who fell. The top of Triple Falls is not a safe place to be at any time of year.

More details on the slide. It was earlier reported that a hiker coming down trail warned the family that some rocks were coming down. I don't know if this would have stopped me, either, until I read that account--obviously this was a warning sign! The father is a real hero for covering up and protecting his children.

Tom D

getting off the ground is always the most dangerous thing next to rappelling down. Circumstances dictate where pro can be placed, but under the circumstances, the pro at 10 feet was useless, and he may as weel have just gone for the 30 foot spot and saved the energy (of placing the first pro) for climbing. However going 30 feet up technical rock that is near your limit, before placing pro, is asking for it.

And yes far more hikers will fall over cliffs than climbers.
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hooey. NOLS reports between 1 and 0.54 injury evacuations per one thousand field days. They're using roughly two million field days for reporting basis. Medical evacuation rates, a somewhat different matter, were slightly lower.

This report is perhaps a good measure of risk to hikers, or, if not, is at least interesting and extremely detailed.

http://www.nols.edu./resources/research/pdfs/medical_incidents_evacs.pdf

P.S. Am well-acquainted with where that guy at Gunks did the ground fall. He is within my circle of acquantances, but I'm unsure if I've met him.

It's a 5.2 pitch. Obviously he should have placed more gear, but I'd say he was just having a really, really bad day.

What I read, if I remember it all, said he was out of sight of his belayer, slid down maybe 10 feet, hit a ledge, then flipped upside down (my guess is he cartwheeled backwards) and it sounds like he hit the ground head first. Not sure if he had a helmet.

He was wearing a helmet.

Apparently, you're right about the flip. I'd doubt he was completely out of sight of belayer, but obviously, this makes no difference and doesn't matter --- when you hit the ground.

One death and five injuries, several of them serious injuries, all during the same afternoon, 20 minutes' drive from my house, on a trail that I hike several times a month, do tend to make me pause and think a bit about safety. I hope these incidents have the same effect on you.

The article you cite refers to accidents on NOLS wilderness expeditions, so is hardly representative of general safety. The Cascade Locks SAR group in the Columbia River Gorge is often out several times a day, usually rescuing people from their own ineptitude.

See appendix A of this report for partial list of Oregon SARs.
http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pdfs/State_of_Oregon_SaR_report.pdf

Also, I don't think it's reasonable to dismiss the NOLS data concerning 2.3 million field days.

http://www.nols.edu./resources/research/pdfs/medical_incidents_evacs.pdf


In fact, most injuries occurred during mundane activities like hiking, or hanging around in camp. It's an interesting and valuable breakdown. That's why they published the thing.